MR Pridiyathorn Devakula wants to be a royally appointed prime minister following his call for caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra to step down, according to the Pheu Thai Party.
Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said on Thursday that Mom Rajawongse (MR) Pridiyathorn's call for the government to resign from its caretaker role to pave the way for an interim government was unconstitutional and undemocratic.
MR Pridiyathorn may have a political agenda because he once served as a minister in a government that had seized power in a military coup. He was also a friend of former national army chief Prawit Wongsuwon and his comments were always against the government and the Pheu Thai Party, Mr Prompong said.
During the Surayud Chulanont administration, MR Pridiyathorn had caused the SET index to plummet by more than 100 points, losing about 800 billion baht in just a single day, he said.
"I've been told by senior Pheu Thai members that MR Pridiyathorn had offered himself as a deputy premier and finance minister of the Pheu Thai government but the party refused his offer," Mr Prompong said. "Is this why he is angry at Pheu Thai and has decided to move in line with anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban?"
MR Pridiyathorn's call was "selfish" and would not benefit the public and he should stand for election and apply for the Democrat Party leader's post, Mr Prompong said.
Pheu Thai list MP candidate Chavalit Witchayasuth said the constitution does not open the way for Ms Yingluck to resign as caretaker prime minister. Ms Yingluck must remain as the caretaker PM until a new government is established, he said.
"His Majesty the King has said that he does not agree with the idea of invoking Section 7 to form a royally appointed government. We therefore should follow the democratic system and respect the votes of 20 million people who cast their ballots in the general election," Mr Chavalit said.