PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva is uncomfortable in the caretaker government and his resignation is imminent, a Thai Rak Thai source said yesterday.

"Suranand is increasingly unhappy and he has talked about the possibility of resignation several times," said the anonymous source.

The minister discussed the matter with certain figures in the party, complaining about his discomfort over the political crisis, according to the source.

And the party insider expects things to come to a head before the end of the month.

Suranand is currently in the United States.

He has been reluctant to leave the government because he apparently feels gratitude towards the caretaker premier, Thaksin Shinawatra.

However, senior figures, who Suranand respects, have advised him to leave the troubled government, the Thai Rak Thai source said.

There has also been speculation that caretaker Deputy Premier and Commerce Minister Somkid Jatusripitak was considering leaving the government, the party source said.

The source said yesterday it was likely that Somkid would depart along with Suranand as he also had complained about his growing "discomfort" with the administration.

However, a source close to Somkid said he recently made it clear, despite his unhappiness with the political crisis, that he would prefer not to leave the administration.

Doing so, he said, would bring more harm than good to the economy and the country.

Two senior government figures who have already jumped ship are former deputy premier Wissanu Krea-ngam and former Cabinet secretary-general Borwornsak Uwanno.