Bangkok gubernatorial candidate Chadchart Sittipunt launched a new campaign strategy on June 3, 2026, replacing traditional posters with digital art displays at Siam Square. The shift comes as Chadchart also faces public scrutiny regarding allegations of corruption involving the appointment of district directors, which he has challenged his accusers to prove.
A Digital Pivot for Campaign Aesthetics
In a departure from the city’s standard practice of cluttering public spaces with paper placards, Chadchart Sittipunt has transitioned his campaign presence to LED billboards and elevator-front displays. The candidate, running as number 9, utilized a specialized EV campaign vehicle to debut the project at Siam Square, framing the initiative as an effort to transform Bangkok into a living art gallery.
According to reporting by MGR Online, the effort features 3D art created by the individual behind the social media page Uninspired by Current Events. The campaign aims to communicate over 250 policy goals—covering topics from waste management and animal welfare to education—through visual art rather than static imagery of the candidate’s face.
Chadchart emphasized that the strategy is designed to minimize visual pollution in the city. By renting time on large LED screens in 15-second cycles, the campaign claims to maintain costs within regulated limits. As noted by Thairath, the candidate has already filed the necessary reports with the Election Commission regarding this spending. The Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) mandates strict caps on campaign expenditures for municipal elections, and Chadchart’s team has submitted itemized digital rental receipts to ensure compliance with the 2026 electoral spending ceiling, which remains capped at 49 million baht for gubernatorial candidates in the capital.
The transition to digital media also serves a logistical purpose. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Department of Environment, the city typically collects over 50 tons of vinyl and plastic campaign waste following a major election cycle. By utilizing existing digital infrastructure at major transit hubs like Siam, Asok, and Victory Monument, Chadchart’s campaign has eliminated the need for thousands of bamboo frames and plastic zip ties, reducing the carbon footprint of his promotional efforts by an estimated 70 percent compared to his 2022 campaign.
Addressing Allegations of District Director Corruption
The launch of the new campaign visual strategy coincided with a brewing political confrontation. Chris Potranant, a member of the Economic Party, has signaled plans to hold a press conference regarding the alleged sale of district director positions within the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, with claims of bribes reaching 4 million baht.
The allegations center on the internal BMA promotion process for district-level administrative roles. Chris, who has been vocal in his opposition to current BMA management practices, claims that intermediaries have solicited payments from mid-level civil servants in exchange for favorable appointments to high-budget districts. These districts, such as Chatuchak or Pathum Wan, handle significant procurement contracts, making them highly sought after by those seeking to influence local infrastructure spending.
Chadchart addressed the brewing controversy directly on June 3, stating he is not concerned by the upcoming revelations. He characterized the move as a political maneuver, noting that he is well-acquainted with the team behind the accusations. As reported by Thai PBS, Chadchart questioned why these allegations are surfacing now, rather than during his previous tenure in the Bangkok Council.
If you have clear information, go report it to the NACC. Don’t just talk. If there were real evidence, I wouldn’t have survived until now.
Chadchart Sittipunt, Bangkok gubernatorial candidate
The candidate maintains that corruption—specifically the sale of positions—would be a fatal error for his administration. He has explicitly challenged the accusers to move beyond public statements and present their evidence to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). Under Thai law, the NACC possesses the legal authority to subpoena bank records and conduct forensic audits of civil servant assets, a process that is far more rigorous than the public forums utilized by political rivals.
Political Friction and the Future of the Race
The intersection of the campaign’s artistic pivot and the corruption accusations highlights a deepening divide between the candidates. While Chadchart’s team attempts to frame his platform through modern, less intrusive campaign methods, his opponents are utilizing investigative claims to challenge his administration’s integrity.
According to Workpoint News, Chadchart has explicitly denied the existence of a patronage system, often referred to locally as the “Ah Gong system,” within his operations. He maintains that his past interactions with members of the Economic Party were professional and that he had even previously invited them to join his team. The “Ah Gong system” refers to a historical method of political patronage where appointments are traded for loyalty or financial kickbacks, a practice that the current BMA administration claims to have dismantled via the implementation of open-bid procurement and merit-based promotion criteria introduced in 2023.
The political stakes are high as the city approaches the final month of the campaign season. Legal experts observing the race note that if Chris Potranant fails to produce tangible evidence—such as wire transfer logs or recorded communication—the accusations could trigger a defamation suit under the Computer Crime Act, which carries heavy penalties for spreading false information online. Conversely, if the NACC decides to open a formal inquiry based on the claims, the momentum of Chadchart’s campaign could be significantly disrupted regardless of the final verdict, as the optics of a corruption probe tend to dominate news cycles.
The next 30 days will likely determine if the corruption allegations gain traction or if they are viewed by the public as a tactical political smear. For now, the candidate remains focused on his “City of Opportunity” platform, using QR codes and digital art to bypass the traditional, often chaotic, physical advertising methods that have long defined local elections. Whether this technical and aesthetic shift will resonate with voters—or if the corruption claims will overshadow his policy messaging—remains the central question of the current cycle. The Bangkok Metropolitan Police have already been notified of the planned press conference by the Economic Party to ensure public order, as the venue is expected to attract significant media attendance and potential counter-protesters from among Chadchart’s supporters.