Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday appeared to distance himself from speculation he could become an outsider prime minister in the next government, saying he was only focusing on the task at hand.
Gen Prayut said he was committed to working for the people in whatever capacity.
"I can be whatever you want me to be. I can be it all. Today, I'm doing my job for the people," he said.
For anyone occupying the prime ministerial seat, it is more important to look at their intention to serve, regardless of how they came to power, Gen Prayut said.
"I'm trying to make changes for the betterment of the country. Whoever has such determination, they will be suitable for managing the work [of the government] in the future. But that person won't be me," he said.
"I'm talking about what will happen politically in the future. Don't drag me into it," the prime minister said.
His remarks followed speculation among politicians that MPs will not be able to agree on their own choice of prime minister after the election, which will subsequently require parliament to vote for a non-MP outsider prime minister to lead the next government.
On Monday, former Democrat Party MP Nipit Intarasombat said he expected Gen Prayut to decline any offer by a political party to be its candidate for prime minister. Mr Nipit believed Gen Prayut would be the choice some political parties could agree on to nominate to be an outsider premier.
Mr Nipit predicted the parties which win seats will exhaust their lists of candidates in a futile vote to pick a premier in the House of Representatives. A month after this, the MPs and 250 senators will meet, and "it is then that they will propose Gen Prayut to be premier".
However, the former MP insisted a person who fits the bill as an outsider prime minister must be certain they have secured the support of a sizeable number of MPs.
Also on Monday, former senator Paiboon Nititawan announced his intention to form his own party on March 1 and openly threw his support behind Gen Prayut to return as an outsider prime minister.
However, Mr Paiboon said that Gen Prayut must remain politically neutral and above the fray by refraining from subscribing to any party or being on any party list in the election.
Yesterday, Mr Nipit poured cold water on a suggestion by Amnuay Klangpa, a key Pheu Thai Party member, that all political parties should unite to oppose an outsider prime minister taking power after the election.
Mr Nipit said it was premature to be discussing parties banding together for such a cause as the election is still a long way away.
The prime minister has promised to allow a general election this year.
Mr Amnuay said a democratic system means that the country's prime minister must be elected by the people.
The prime minister after the next poll must only be drawn from among choices proposed to the House of Representatives by political parties which win seats, he said.
An outsider would only provoke social and political conflicts which would cause a huge setback for the country, Mr Amnuay said.
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