The government's PR team went into damage control mode, putting a 'spin' on Chalerm's warning that the "ice cream gang" is working to unseat the prime minister with a picture from an ice cream shop in Poland.
Deputy Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan on Friday also denied the existence of any such subversive group at Government House, as claimed by the unhappy new labour minister, Chalerm Yubamrung.
Mr Niwatthamrong, who also is the commerce minister, said he had no idea what Mr Chalerm was talking about in his comments to the media at the Labour Ministry on Thursday, the first day the demoted deputy prime minister reported for work wearing his new hat.
Mr Chalerm warned the prime minister of the danger posed by the "ice cream gang'' and other politicians at Government House, warning they could mislead her and bring trouble down upon her.
He did not name anybody, but it was widely believed he was referring to people immediately surrounding Ms Yingluck - including Suranand Vejjajiva, the prime minister's secretary-general, and government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi.
That was underlined by an image posted on Instagram by Mr Teerat overnight Thursday showing the two men, and two unnamed women, showing off ice cream cones at a food shop in Poland.
The photo was taken during the prime minister's official visit to Warsaw. She is due to return to Thailand on Saturday after talks in Turkey.
Mr Suranand talked to reporters online. He claimed that Mr Chalerm did not understand how the prime minister's aides worked. All were serving Ms Yingluck and all were tasked with coordinating with other cabinet ministers to ensure the government's public communications were focussed in the same direction.
Mr Suranand said he respected the labour minister and said Mr Chalerm's comments were a reflection of the democracy within the government. Different opinions could be utilised for the benefit of the administration, he added.
Mr Chalerm was sacked as deputy prime minister in charge of the far South, security affairs and the police and given the labour portfolio in the reshuffle confirmed on Sunday.
Last week he accused Thawee Sodsong, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre, of conspiring to remove him from involvement in southern policy. He followed up the attack on Thursday with the warning of the "ice cream gang''.
The term was used in the past by Pheu Thai MPs to refer to a group of young politicians in the Democrat Party surrounding Abhisit Vejjajiva when he was prime minister before the last general election.
The "ice cream gang'' then was said to include two MPs - Chavanond Intarakomalyasut and Sirichok Sopha.
Mr Chavanond on Friday welcomed Mr Chalerm's attack, saying that it reflected the conflict in the government, and this could affect its policies, including attempts to end the violence in the restive South.
Ms Yingluck did not comment on the labour minister's statement.
She said on Tuesday that Mr Chalerm was suited for his new job at the Labour Ministry. The welfare of workers, and improvements to their lives, was a key policy of the government, she claimed.
Mr Chalerm skipped the the first meeting of the reformed cabinet on Tuesday, saying he was scheduled for his annual medical checkup. He will also miss the next one, he said, because he needs time to recover from eye surgery on Monday.
He is in Hong Kong at the same time as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is there to meet Pheu Thai members and politicians who were dropped or moved to different jobs in the new cabinet.