Chalongbhop is president of the Thailand Development Research Institute.

Meanwhile, Surayud insisted that he would not resign although a crisis has hit his government. Asked if the expected Cabinet reshuffle would see changes in a number of ministries, he said it would not be many changes.

"The new finance minister might be a surprise for everyone," a source close to Surayud said on condition of anonymity.

It is rumoured that Chalongbhop was offered the job and he had accepted it.

Surayud on Thursday said he would spend three to four days finalising his decision on the new Cabinet line-up. He also said that he would not comment on any new faces in his government before the royal command on the appointment had been issued.

In the latest speculation, the shortlist of candidates for the finance portfolio includes Chalongbhop, Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras, and former finance deputy permanent secretary Aran Thamno.

Two political parties yesterday urged the government to revise its priorities after the Cabinet reshuffle.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampaiboon said the government had come to power under unusual circumstances but was acting as if everything was normal.

"In light of the special situation, the government should spell out its strategies and measures on what can be realistically accomplished and ministers who cannot meet job requirements should reconsider themselves," he said.

Thai Rak Thai Party executive Chamlong Krutkhuntode said the government did not pass his party's performance evaluation after five months in office.

Chamlong said the government had failed on three issues - inept Cabinet, political reform, and resolving the problem of the strife-torn South.

Surayud's ministers lacked initiative and because they were appointed under the quota system, they appeared to answer to their master rather than the prime minister, he said.

Even though the government promised to encourage people's participation in the charter drafting process, voters had no say in the selection of the charter writers and their views were ignored in the draft, he said.

With regard to the South, violence persisted because government and military leaders mistakenly focused their attention on political undercurrents, a term for subversive activities, he said.

An Abac opinion poll on the impending Cabinet reshuffle indicated that seven out 10 respondents wanted Surayud to complete his one-year term.

Some 1,400 people from Bangkok and surrounding areas participated in the survey over the weekend.

Almost 83 per cent of respondents criticised political pressure groups for causing social divisions.

About 37 per cent said they had confidence in Surayud's leadership, compared to 26 per cent who expressed loyalty to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, public confidence in Surayud was markedly different among workers whose approval of Surayud stood at 30 per cent while 34 per cent had more faith in Thaksin.

About 46 per cent wanted a limited reshuffle of key ministerial portfolios while 30 per cent said they were in favour of a completely new line-up.

About one in four said they were not against Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras also holding the finance minister portfolio.

Almost the same number expressed approval for Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham being promoted to deputy prime minister for social affairs.

Respondents said the government should tackle three main issues - the economy, southern violence, and the illicit drug trade.

Asked to name their favourite party if a general election were to take place now, 56 per cent said they did not have a party in mind, 22 per cent named Thai Rak Thai, 16 per cent backed the Democrat Party and four per cent for the Chat Thai Party.

The remaining two per cent said they would opt for various minor parties.