I was hurt for being overlooked: Juti

"I did not feel hurt for failing to get a Cabinet seat. My failure to show up at the party meeting in Koh Samui [on Friday and Saturday] had nothing to do with my feelings," Juti said.

He also denied ever saying the Ahbisit Cabinet line-up looked ugly.

Reports about the Gang of Four in the party came out because some members were friends and often dined together, he told a press conference at Democrat headquarters.

He said he was also close to Satit Wongnongtoey and Witthaya Kaewparadai, who were reported to be part of the Gang of Four. He said he joined the Democrats in 1995, the same year as Satit and Witthaya.

He said he had heard from reports that he and five other Democrat MPs, who were heart-broken by the Cabinet appointments, would cause conflicts in the party. But he would like to point out that he and the five other MPs have enough spirit not to seek to destroy the party.

"The hurt and pain are personal issues and we must keep such feelings inside," he said.

"I was disappointed and hurt and I lost my faith. But it has become a thing of the past. I now understand that we have only 164 MPs, which is not enough to form a government. Since we had to join other parties to form the government, it could not help cause problems."

The country was in serious trouble so no one should try to rock the boat or else the country would be ruined, he said, adding that he would continue to support Abhisit as the prime minister and Democrat leader.