"I am the most important person who works with them. Everyone else is just my helper," Thaksin said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Public Health Minister Pinit Jarusombat, said Somkid and he have decided not to take any government position after the October national election.

Somkid is a respected business leader who had been seen as a possible successor to Thaksin. Thaksin was speaking in Chiang Mai where he is travelling to meet local people.

He brushed off concerns that Somkid's departure could weaken confidence in his government among business leaders.

Pinit said on Tuesday he wanted to clear the way for younger politicians to join the government.

Somkid is a former finance minister who had widely been seen as the top candidate within Thai Rak Thai to succeed Thaksin if the billionaire prime minister decided not to run for prime minister.

Although Thaksin has said he will lead his party's election campaign, he has been coy about whether he would seek the top job in government.

"This is not the appropriate time to tell you," Thaksin said when asked about his plans for his political future.

"There are many factors to consider and I have not yet decided," he said.

The Nation