Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Saturday insisted the prime minister has confirmed to him that no outsiders will be brought in at the next cabinet reshuffle.
The deputy premier dismissed claims that Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MPs had signed a petition urging Gen Prawit to leverage his favourable ties with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ahead of the expected rejig.
Gen Prayut has insisted he will wait for the PPRP and the coalition to agree on nominations for the vacant positions before he decides, the deputy premier said yesterday.
A cabinet shake-up appears inevitable after three ministers were jailed on Wednesday and lost their posts as a result. The vacant positions that must be filled are minister for digital, economy and society (DES), minister for education and deputy transport minister.
DES Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan and Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam were found guilty by the Criminal Court of charges linked to street protests to oust the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Deputy Minister of Agricultural and Cooperatives Thamanat Prompow, who is also a deputy leader of the PPRP, has denied reports that he too is spearheading his own push to influence selections.
Spokesman of the coalition Democrat Party Rames Rattanachaweng said the cabinet reshuffle was up to the premier and his party had not discussed the matter as members had been preoccupied with the Nakhon Si Thammarat by-election.
They were, however, expecting a discussion on the matter.
Meanwhile, the committee of relatives of the Black May '92 heroes yesterday arranged agreed to censure the government outside parliament during a forum held at the Thai Journalists Association.
Chairman of the Campaign for Popular Democracy Phichai Ratanatilaka Na Bhuket, who spoke at the event, said Gen Prayut lacked the ability to forge national reconciliation -- one of the promises he made when he seized power.
Thai politics since Gen Prayut came to power had become less democratic and freedom of expression had been limited, he said.
Secretary-General of the People Network Against Corruption, Veera Somkwamkid, talked about the so-called "elephant tickets" that were allegedly used to buy promotion for police officials, promising legal against the PM if no action was taken.