The opposition submitted a censure debate motion on Friday to Parliament president Chuan Leekpai, in which Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and five other ministers will be targeted.
The six targets of the no-confidence motion are: Gen Prayut, his deputies Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, Wissanu Krea-ngam, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai and Deputy Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Thamanat Prompow.
Pheu Thai Party leader Sompong Amornwiwat said the opposition had sufficient and clear evidence to grill the six cabinet ministers, adding that 20 to 30 opposition MPs will be lined up for the debate.
Among them will be Mingkwan Saengsuwan, party-list MP and former leader of the New Economics Party, Mr Sompong said.
The Pheu Thai leader said Mr Mingkwan had signed up to grill ministers, despite the NEP informing him of its decision to withdraw from the opposition and operate as an independent party.
When asked why ministers from key coalition parties, such as the Democrats and Bhumjaithai, were not being targeted in the censure, Mr Sompong said the list of ministers to be censured is based on the information available.
Admitting that the debate will not bring down the government, because it commands a majority in the House, Mr Sompong said the opposition still wants to make the public aware of the government's failures. Mr Sompong also denied reports that the opposition had cut a secret "deal" with Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, who is not among the listed ministers.
Chief opposition whip Sutin Klungsang, a Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham, said the censure debate is tentatively scheduled for Feb 19-21, with the vote of no-confidence to be cast on Feb 22.
A source in the opposition said the list of ministers set to face the no-confidence onslaught had been finalised just 10 minutes before it was submitted to Mr Chuan yesterday, with Gen Prawit's name added to the list at the last minute.
In a meeting on Thursday, key opposition figures had agreed on five ministers to target. However, they agreed to review the list yesterday morning after Future Forward Party (FFP) secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul convinced them to include Gen Prawit, saying he had enough information against the deputy prime minister, the source said.
The source also said that the opposition parties has divided the censure targets among them. Gen Prayut will be censured by leaders of opposition parties, while Gen Prawit will be targeted by MPs from the FFP and Puea Chat Party. Gen Anupong will be grilled by MPs from Pheu Thai and the FFP, while Mr Wissanu will be censured by MPs from Pheu Thai and the FFP. Mr Don will be targeted by Pheu Thai MPs, and Capt Thamanat will face questions from FFP and Seri Ruam Thai Party MPs, the source said.
Gen Prayut, however, will be the key focus of the debate as he will have to explain his government's failure in tackling issues like smog, corruption and the economic slowdown among others, the source added.