"The new line-up will include a new deputy interior minister who will be in charge of facilitating the referendum on the new constitution," Surayud said.

He said the announcement of the Cabinet reshuffle would take place next week following royal approval. "I would rather not say ahead of time as everyone will learn the details next week," he said, refusing to reveal the names and numbers of newcomers to his Cabinet.

Before Surayud made his remarks, Government House officials speculated about four contenders vying for two portfolios.

Potential candidates for the position of deputy interior minister include Chanasak Yuwaboon, former interior permanent secretary, and Yuvarat Kamolvej, a former election commissioner.

For the position of deputy agriculture minister, key contenders are ex-senator Anan Dalodom and Veerachai Veerametheekul, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister.

The four said they had not been approached to take the job.

Prasarn Maruekapitak, the subcommittee chairman in charge of the government's public relations, said Surayud had assigned his ministers to step up the awareness campaign designed to "wean villagers off populist policies".

"Each Cabinet member has been tasked to make more field trips to the provinces under their charge in order to keep in touch with villagers and raise awareness on the economic sufficiency theory," he said.

The awareness campaign is slated to commence next month.

Regarding contacts with Thai expats and students abroad, a high-level delegation will visit England and Germany from May 17-26 to explain the September coup and the restoration of democratic rule, he said. The delegation is to include ex-ambassador Surapong Chaiyanam, social critic Sulak Sivaraksa and ex-senator Kraisak Chonhavan.