Young Thais look to Pita Limjaroenrat to bust military-royalist grip on power

Move Forward party leader's promise in election campaign to end political stranglehold chimes with younger generation

When Pita Limjaroenrat took to the stage for his final big campaign event before Thailand's elections, the cheers and screams were deafening. Our time has come," he told crowds of mostly young supporters in a packed stadium in Bangkok.

Pita's Move Forward party has built a large and loyal support base among young Thais who are fed up with the political status quo. At rallies, he is met with long lines of students and young people queueing for selfies. On TikTok, fans post images of themselves with a special filter that displays his face smiling and lurking in the background.