A profile of Chatchat Sittipunt, who has announced his bid to run for a second term as Bangkok governor. He is nicknamed the "Strongest Minister on Earth" and recently became a meme again for shouting to open a road: "Alright.. open."
On 19 May 2026, it became clear that Chatchat Sittipunt, former governor of Bangkok and popular among many residents, will run for the Bangkok governor election again for a second term. He had resigned from the position on 18 May to attend his son Sanpiti Sittipunt's graduation abroad. He plans to register as a candidate between 28 May and 1 June 2026, amid strong support from Bangkok residents who want him to continue his leadership due to his impressive record and simple lifestyle, regularly visiting communities—qualities rare in today's leaders.
Thairath Online revisits the life story of Chatchat Sittipunt, former Bangkok governor, before his second run for office. Born on 24 May 1966, he is currently 59, turning 60 soon. Nicknamed “Trip,” he is the son of Police General Sanet Sittipunt, former Metropolitan Police Chief, and Jitcharung Sittipunt. He has two siblings from the same parents: Associate Professor Dr. Preecha Sittipunt, a former architecture professor at Chulalongkorn University, and Associate Professor Dr. Chanchai Sittipunt, a medical council board member (2019–2021), dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, and director of Chulalongkorn Hospital of the Thai Red Cross Society, who is Chatchat’s elder twin brother.
In his personal life, Chatchat was married to Piyada, an employee of Thai Airways; they divorced in 2017. They have one son, Sanpiti Sittipunt, also known as Saendee, who was born deaf. He received a cochlear implant surgery in 2002 and has inspired Chatchat’s commitment to developing Bangkok into a truly disability-inclusive city.
Chatchat completed lower secondary education at Chulalongkorn University Demonstration School and upper secondary at Triam Udom Suksa School. He earned a bachelor's degree with first-class honors in civil engineering from Chulalongkorn University, a master's degree in structural engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a doctoral degree in civil (structural) engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA.
Before running for Bangkok governor, Chatchat first gained recognition as a politician when serving as Deputy Minister and then Minister of Transport in Yingluck Shinawatra’s government. He was a key figure in national strategic planning with a special focus on rail transport. His achievements as minister include redesigning Bang Sue Central Station to accommodate high-speed trains, expanding the dark red line from three to four routes, procuring eight special express CNR trains, and upgrading railway tracks in northern Thailand. He also initiated a policy requiring civil servants at level 9 and above to commute by bus and report problems.
Before entering politics, Chatchat worked as a structural engineer in the private sector. He then shifted to academia as an associate professor at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering and was appointed assistant rector for property management. He also served as a board member of several state enterprises.
As an academic, Chatchat advised the Ministry of Transport during the Thaksin Shinawatra and Samak Sundaravej administrations. Under Yingluck Shinawatra’s government, he was appointed Minister of Transport and gained recognition for his work. After Yingluck’s government ended, he transitioned to real estate as CEO of Quality Houses Public Company Limited. He resigned to run for Bangkok governor in 2022, serving nearly four full years before resigning to attend his son’s graduation. He intends to run again for a second term as governor.
The Meme of the “Strongest Minister on Earth” and the Shout to Open the Road “Alright.. Open”
In early 2014, while serving as Minister of Transport in Yingluck Shinawatra’s government, Chatchat gained viral fame on social media after photos showed him wearing a black sleeveless shirt and shorts, barefoot, carrying bags of curry and sticky rice with grilled pork skewers, walking determinedly to make merit at Wat Burapharam in Surin province. The images highlighted his muscular physique and strong appearance.
Netizens turned these photos into humorous memes, joking that he possessed superhero-like strength, making him a nationwide viral sensation and earning the nickname "Strongest Minister on Earth." This nickname stayed with him when he became Bangkok governor, reflecting his lifestyle of waking at 4 a.m. to exercise and working hands-on in the field without ceremony.
Near the end of his term as governor, Chatchat became a viral meme again when he opened the new section of Pran Nok–Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road (between Phutthamonthon Sai 2 and 3) on 30 January 2026 to ease traffic in Thonburi. The event was informal, without a large stage or ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At the opening, Chatchat simply said, “Let’s open it simply. Alright... open!” and shouted the signal. The entire opening ceremony lasted only three seconds, after which vehicles were immediately allowed to use the road.
