A video speech of Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung venting his frustration over the cabinet reshuffle and challenging Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to drop him from the lineup has been uploaded to the internet.
In the three-minute speech, recorded on Friday at a policy forum at the national police headquarters, Mr Chalerm accused Pol Col Thawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), of lobbying former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Ms Yingluck, to strip him of his position as deputy prime minister in charge of resolving the issues of southern unrest.
"Thawee can disrespect me, but he has to respect my working team. If you're not happy with me you can lobby and get me transferred. And he finally did.
"He lied to Pol Lt Col Thaksin and Yingluck and I was eventually replaced by Pol Gen Pracha Promnok as deputy prime minister. This was because Thawee told them that I had opened a gambling den.
"The police were not happy about this and reporters who I'm acquainted with asked me about the situation, and I did not make any excuses," Mr Chalerm said.
The veteran politician said he hoped the people who accused him of opening a gambling den will be damned, including their families.
On Wednesday, Mr Chalerm said he will start working as labour minister tomorrow.
When reporters asked him whether he will resign from the cabinet, he said, "Don't think too much because nothing is certain in politics and there are always changes."
He admitted that he felt a little slighted because of his demotion. (continued below)
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Yingluck said Mr Chalerm did not attend the first meeting of the new cabinet because he had an appointment for a medical-checkup.
"There is no conflict between Pol Thawee and Mr Chalerm. They just have clashes of opinions.
"I'm sure the two will be able to talk it out and I'm confident that Mr Chalerm can perform as labour minister, because he has been in the government a long time," Ms Yingluck said.