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Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has surprisingly emerged as a potential deputy prime minister in Somchai Wongsawat's new cabinet lineup.

A reliable source said Gen Chavalit, who was army chief before resigning to enter politics, would oversee security affairs and southern unrest if his appointment is tangible.

Mr Somchai on Saturday denied his brother-in-law, deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had a hand in picking cabinet ministers "I am the prime minister and I am responsible [for selecting the ministers]. Nobody has a hand in it," he said.

A recent trip to London by Yongyuth Tiyapairat, former deputy leader of the People Power party (PPP), had reinforced the speculation.

Mr Somchai said there has been a lot of progress in putting the cabinet together and some coalition parties have already forwarded their lists of ministers.

A source in the PPP said that former Siam Commercial Bank president Olarn Chaipravat has been approached for the finance minister post, but he has not made a decision.

Former interior minister Chalerm Yubamrung is lobbying for a deputy prime minister slot.

However, Mr Somchai's political advisers are reluctant due to his widely perceived negative image.

Kowit Wattana is likely to retain his interior portfolio despite pressure from Mr Yongyuth and his associates to hand the job to deputy party leader Sompong Amornwiwat.

Santi Prompat has reportedly cleared the air with Mr Somchai's wife Yaowapa and is likely to keep his job as transport minister. Chart Thai deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said Saturday there would be changes in the party's cabinet line-up.

Mr Somsak noted that Warawut Silpa-archa, son of Chart Thai party leader Mr Banharn, is likely to be appointed as a cabinet minister.