The Bhumjaithai Party will receive the transport minister's seat and the Democrat Party will get the deputy's post, according to a source.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha already agreed that the transport minister would be Saksayam Chidchob, younger brother of Bhumjaithai de facto leader Newin Chidchob and Bhumjaithai secretary-general, and the deputy would be Democrat Thaworn Senneam, the source said on Tuesday.
The allocation was previously agreed to in negotiations between the Palang Pracharath, Bhumjaithai and Democrat parties, the source said.
As a former owner of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction Plc, Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul was thought more suited to be public health minister than transport minister, who would supervise costly transport infrastructure construction, raising a possible conflict of interest for Mr Anutin. As the health minister, Mr Anutin could advance one of his party's key campaign planks, the liberalisation of medical marijuana, the source said.
The Transport Ministry is authorised to spend large amounts of money on transport projects including highways, electric trains, high-speed trains, inter-city motorways and new airports.
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Democrat Thaworn Senneam, centre, is likely to be deputy transport minister. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)