No request yet for cabinet reshuffle : PM

"I stand firm on job evaluation and the Cabinet line-up can change at any time to boost performance," he said.

Abhisit said his government has now been in office for more than four months, therefore change may be deemed necessary and does not have to wait for the periodic review after six months.

Regardless of news reports that the Bhum Jai Thai Party wants to replace Deputy Agriculture Minister Chartchai Pukkayaporn, he said he had not received a formal request to shuffle the ministerial portfolios.

He said Chartchai was obligated to retain the support of his own party even though he might be doing his job well.

The Cabinet might be functioning without any shortcomings but it was up to each coalition partner to adjust the seats under the party quotas as deemed necessary, he said.

Regarding portfolios held by the Democrats, the main coalition party has no plans for any changes, he said.

He said he would have to review the Bhum Jai Thai proposal, if the party decided to shuffle its portfolios, before drawing his own conclusion on the new Cabinet line-up.

He said his main focus was on monitoring the progress in implementing the first round of economic revitalisation measures by respective ministries.

In the past four months, the government managed to push through several policy initiatives and could quickly tackle any glitches associated with new measures before developing into full-blown problems, he said.

In his capacity as Bhum Jai Thai Party leader, Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said his party is expected soon to finalise its decision on the Cabinet line-up.

Chartchai was appointed to the job under the party's quota held by faction leader Sora-at Klinpratoom, Chaovarat said, hinting that Sora-at would have to decide whether to continue his backing for Chartchai.

"In my opinion, Chartchai has never been a Bhum Jai Thai member since he has failed to attend every party meeting," he said.

He said he and Sora-at will this week iron out two contentious issues - whether to allow Chartchai to carry on his job or to replace him with a member from the same or a different faction.

If Sora-at agrees to relinquish his quota, Chartchai might be replaced by Supachai Phosu from the Newin Chidchob faction.

Bhum Jai Thai spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said the quota reallocation between Sora-at and Newin factions will not cause a split within his party.

"Supachai is a senior MP from Nakhon Phanom and his qualifications will help boost the party's popularity because he keeps in touch with the people," the party spokesman said.

He said his party had been consolidated beyond the pettiness of factional turf war.

A source from Bhum Jai Thai party said that the party's reshuffle line-up was already submitted to Democrat Party. The source said the Democrat has informed Bhum Jai Thai that the reshuffle will be made together with other parties.