Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of Move Forward Party and candidate for prime minister, is surrounded by supporters and the press after holding a meeting with the eight-party coalition in Bangkok on July 17, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

BANGKOK - Thailand's Pita Limjaroenrat resigned on Friday as leader of the Move Forward party, months after delivering an electoral victory on a reform agenda that threatened to upend the political status quo.

Riding on a wave of youth and urban support, Move Forward was the huge surprise of the May election, before it was blocked by lawmakers from forming a government.

Move Forward now represents the bulk of the parliamentary opposition but will retain significant political clout having won the majority of seats in and around the capital Bangkok and taken over key urban centers and some conservative strongholds.

The Harvard-educated Pita, 43, was twice denied by parliament in his efforts to become prime minister as senators closed ranks to stop Move Forward, some over its plans to amend a law that insulates the monarchy from criticism.

ALSO READ: Thailand's MFP party leader Pita denied renomination to be PM

Supporters of the Move Forward Party hold a portrait of Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 29, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

"I want to allow other lawmakers to take on this role of opposition leader," Pita said on Facebook.

"But in any position, I will work with Move Forward and the people to the fullest of my abilities."

Pita had led pre-election opinion polls as Thailand's top choice for prime minister but faced a host of legal and legislative challenges.

He is currently suspended from parliament due to a court case concerning his eligibility to run for office, stemming from shares he held in a media company, which is against election rules. Pita has denied wrongdoing.

READ MORE: Thai PM election: Move Forward party seeks to curb Senate powers

"I will continue to work with Move Forward and fellow citizens with all my strength to drive the change we hope for," he said.