Prachachat Party leader Wan Muhammad Nor Matha on Tuesday expressed confidence that his party will win many MP seats in Bangkok while introducing his first candidate to voters in Bang Kapi district.
Mr Wan Nor was speaking during the opening ceremony for Prachachat Party's coordination centre in the district.
He said his party has received overwhelming support since it was established on March 2 last year under the idea of cultural pluralism.
"Our party is for everyone. We embrace people of every race, religion, culture and belief. We make our diversity our strength, and I believe people will be drawn to this idea especially in this era of open-mindedness and acceptance," he said in front of about 100 local people attending the ceremony.
"And even though our party members are mostly Muslim, we want people to know that we view other religions equally," he said referring to the majority of party members being from the Wadah political group, which is highly influential in the three southernmost border provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat where insurgent-related violence is a concern.
Mr Wan Nor introduced businesswoman Woraluck Srisaard as the party's MP candidate in Bang Kapi district for the upcoming election which has yet to be scheduled.
"We need an MP who's easily approachable and willing to sacrifice and devote herself to the well-being of Bang Kapi people, and Ms Woraluck is that person," he said.
"I've been doing volunteer work for the past 30 years, and I've seen many MPs come and go. What they always do when campaigning is to ask for people's vote, then the people give. But when the people ask for something back, they don't get anything. So that's what I'm aiming to do -- give back to the people," said Ms Woraluck.
A 59-year-old motorcycle taxi driver, Denchai Yubua, also believes that Ms Woraluck is the right MP for Bang Kapi.
"She's been giving to the people of Bang Kapi for a long time, so I believe that if she wins the seat, everything she says and promises will be done.''