"We want to protect the country and if we resign Thaksin's inner circle will have more power and take our ministry positions," one of the table of six told The Nation.

PM's Office Minister Suranand Vejjajiva's public statement may have been less direct but it was revealing.

"We are trying to find a way out for our country. It's our responsibility for our country as we are ministers and politicians," he said.

 The six key ministers realise that their resignations will not make caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to give up.

 He might merely appoint ministry permanent secretaries as their replacements, something he has reportedly threatened to do before.

Leaving Thaksin has proven to be a useless way of telling him its time for him to go. When his top two legal advisers, former deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam and former Cabinet secretary-general Bowornsak Uwanno resigned, observers were quick to say Thaksin's ship would sink .

He survived; they were replaced.

The resignation of the six ministers might merely give Thaksin's inner circle of Prommin Lertsuridej, Newin Chidchob and Yongyuth Tiyapairat more power in the Thai Rak Thai Party and the government.

As a result, the six ministers have to play a very tactical game with Thaksin. Even the anti-Thaksin movement has failed to overthrow him.

One of their most likely options is to take over the party. The six agree that Thaksin is the problem.

If they remain in the Cabinet they can keep their eyes on Thaksin, counter-balance his inner circle or - at the very least - provide an undercurrent.

And when the opportunity arises they can seize power from Thaksin by asking him to step down or forcing him to do so.

If this scenario transpires, the most suitable and likeliest of the six to be the next party leader is Somkid Jatusripitak, deputy prime minister and commerce minister.

Reports say he is eager to be the next prime minister and he has the full support of the five ministers who joined him for what they described as his birthday dinner.

The five are Suranand, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang, Labour Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat and Deputy Commerce Minister Preecha Laohapongchana.

Both Somkid and Chaturon have high public profiles while Somsak and Pinij have more than 150 MPs under their control. They might be followed by Deputy Premier Suriya Jungrungreangkit who can afford to finance the party.

 Some have argued that without Thaksin as its leader the Thai Rak Thai Party will collapse.

 However, if Somkid has less grandiose ambitions than Thaksin, if his desire is to lead a party rather than control an entire country, he may be able to ensure the party remains an integral part of Thailand's political landscape.

But such speculation is a luxury for the group of six.

Now, there is only one concern - deciding when is the right time to move.

July 25 may provide an answer to this question. The Criminal Court will rule on that day on a case filed by the Democrat Party accusing the Election Commission of malfeasance over April's tarnished election.

If the verdict unseats the commissioners, it may provide the perfect opening for the table of six to save their party and begin healing their country.

Somroutai Sapsomboon

Jintana Panyaarvudh

The Nation