When the first ladies go to battle

However, when he wanted to preserve his own power base, he was surprised to find his desire triggering a battle between the two top ladies.

Yongyuth, a former natural resources and environment minister and close-aide to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, gained a lot of support from the network of forestry officers.

He wanted Phrae MP Worawat Ua-apinyakul to be his successor in Somchai's Cabinet.

However, the caretaker natural resources and environment minister and Matchima Thipataya party leader, Anongwan Thepsuthin, refused to move and reminded the PPP of its vow to not mess with ministerial seats in the coalition parties' quota.

After Yongyuth carried the news to London, Yaowapa - the current PM's wife - received a phone call from Thaksin's wife, Khunying Pojaman, about the demand. However, since Yaowapa is the first lady now, she did not have to and did not want to listen to her sister-in-law.

According to her, Anongwan would keep her position. Maybe Yaowapa does not care if this worsens her relations with the other first lady.

Connections count

Between the Lines has decided to look into the criterion used to come up with the new Cabinet line-up.

Setting aside the coalition parties' quota, let us start with the eight main non-faction ministers, most of whom are strongly connected to Thaksin and have contributed to the PPP. This group includes Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who is expected to lead the Puea Thai Party and become the country's leader once PPP is dissolved.

The other close Thaksin aides in the Cabinet include Deputy Prime Minister Olarn Chaipravat; current Puea Thai leader Suchart Thadathamrongvech; Interior Minister Kowit Watana, Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung; Education Minister Srimuang Chareonsiri; Deputy Commerce Minister Songkram Kijlertpairote and PM's Office Minister Sukhumpong Ngonkham.

Then there are the three former PPP Bangkok MPs: Social Development and Human Security Minister Udomdet Rattanasathien, who is also close to former Thai Rak Thai chief Sudarat Keyuraphan; Deputy Public Health Minister Wicharn Meenchainant; and Deputy Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul.

Ministers from the North include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat; Transport Minister Santi Prompat; and Culture Minister Worawat Ua-apinyakul; while Commerce Minister Chaiya Sasomsap and Science Minister Wutthipong Chaisang cover the Central region.

The only remaining minister from the Friends of Newin (Chidchob) group is Deputy Transport Ministers Sophon Salum, while PM's Office Ministers Supon Fongngam and Deputy Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew were lured away from the faction.