Dungog  and Gloucester shires and parts of the Stroud district are in the Upper Hunter electorate.

Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner suggested at a press conference on Tuesday he ‘‘wouldn’t be surprised’’ if Mr Souris, who has held the seat since 1988, announced he wouldn’t recontest it.

Mr Souris, 64, was tight-lipped last Wednesday but said Mr Stoner’s remark ‘‘does not represent anything factual or that has been decided by me beyond his own view’’.

Mr Souris said he had conveyed that to Mr Stoner. 

Mr Souris held the portfolios of Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing and the Arts before Barry O’Farrell’s shock departure as premier last week.

In December Mr Souris was made minister for the Hunter as well as part of a minor cabinet reshuffle, and told the Newcastle Herald he would be standing at the 2015 election.

The latest cabinet changes, which also saw Maitland MP Robyn Parker demoted by new Premier Mike Baird, have been greeted with anticipation by Mr Souris’ political rivals.

Independent candidate Lee Watts, an Upper Hunter Shire councillor, said voters in the area ‘‘want change’’, particularly after the government moved to sell its Hunter power stations.

‘‘It’s fairly clear that after his 26 years maybe it’s time for him to wind down,’’ she said.

‘‘Even his own party thinks so.’’

Farmer Tim Duddy, who stood against Mr Souris at the 2011 election said he was already considering standing for the electorate

The Labor Party is also keen for Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush to stand as its candidate. 

The likely National Party replacement candidate would be Michael Johnsen, who stood for the seat of Hunter at the federal election.

Mr Johnsen refused to comment beyond saying Mr Souris deserved the respect to decide what he would do.

Speculation on Wednesday included whether the Liberal Party would take an interest in the seat, which is usually off limits under an agreement between the National and Liberal parties.Sta