Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra remained tight-lipped yesterday when asked if he would replace Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin in the military reshuffle scheduled for October.

"Don't ask me a leading question about Sonthi as the military is still in the process of drawing up the list for annual rotations," Thaksin said.

There has been speculation on the fate of Sonthi since the Defence Ministry, early this week, instructed the armed forces to start preparing for reassignments.

Rumours are rife in the military that Thaksin may push for the promotion of Sonthi's assistant, General Pornchai Kranlert, to take the helm at the Army.

Pornchai is a pre-cadet classmate of Thaksin seen as a staunch ally of the premier.

Even though Sonthi secured his present position with Thaksin's blessing last year, he reportedly fell out of favour in March after refusing to rally behind the government over the possibility of declaring a state of emergency against street protests.

If and when Thaksin decides to pick a new Army commander, Sonthi is likely to assume the ceremonial position of supreme commander, replacing General Ruengroj Masaranond, who is scheduled for mandatory retirement.

Outgoing Senator Seree Suwanpanont said Thaksin would be guilty of politicising the military reshuffle if he showed favouritism to promote Pornchai and other allies from Pre-Cadet Class 10.

"The armed forces will be demoralised and split if Thaksin bypasses seniority and professional qualifications," he said.

Seree's senator colleague, Chirmsak Pinthong, called on members of the public to monitor whether Thaksin tried to rig the military reshuffle list and expose him if he did.