By William Ton in Canberra

A FORMER deputy prime minister and an ex-minister have rejected claims they are set to wrest the Nationals leadership from David Littleproud.

The party’s previous leader Barnaby Joyce and MP Keith Pitt have been touted as likely contenders for the leadership following reports on Sunday of an imminent challenge.

The report quoted sources who claimed several party MPs expressed discontent over Mr Littleproud’s relationship with Liberal leader Peter Dutton, claiming Mr Dutton dominates him.

It was also alleged the Nationals leader had lost his temper with colleagues and staff.

Mr Joyce on Monday denied reports he was set to challenge for the position, saying the claims were not coming from him.

“I have not made one call to one person asking for one vote,” Mr Joyce said on Seven’s Sunrise.

“We’re not going to have a leadership challenge. I’m not proposing a leadership challenge. I’m not moving for a leadership challenge.”

Mr Pitt, who was resources minister in the previous coalition government, also ruled out a leadership challenge on Monday.

“I haven’t asked a single member of the Nationals party room for their vote,” he told AAP in a statement.

The Nationals leader was confident he had the support of his party room and ruled out any expectation of a challenge to his position.

“Until someone wants to test that, I will have (the support of the party room),” Mr Littleproud told Sky News.

He said it was not “earth-shattering news” that not every single member of the 21-member Nationals party room likes him.

“The Nationals are diverse. We have a range of different backgrounds and diversity that has been brought into one room, and so we don’t always align.”

In response to claims of losing his temper towards colleagues, Mr Littleproud said parliament was a place where ideas are contested and politicians passionately express their views.

“What we try to do is create an environment whereby we can have those discussions … but it’s obviously a stressful place.”

Mr Littleproud became party leader after the coalition’s election loss last year.