He was a Member of Parliament representing the Pheu Thai Party, and was one of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Yingluck Shinawatra from 2011 to 2013.

He is married to Lamnao Yubamrung (Thai: ลำเนา อยู่บำรุง), an auxiliary judge of Thailand's juvenile court.

He was released from jail on bail terms in 2003, and finally acquitted as the court considered the evidence insufficient and the witnesses accounts contradictory.

[3][4] Chalerm's younger brother, Nawarat Yubamrung (Thai: นวรัตน์ อยู่บำรุง), is a politician, serving several terms as a member of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council.

In the wake of the coup Chalerm was among the politicians accused of "unusual wealth", and had 32 million baht in assets seized.

These debates resulted in PM Chuan dissolving parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote, and ultimately in the rise of a Thai Nation Party-led government with Banharn Silpa-archa as prime minister.

After Pheu Thai won the 2011 elections, Chalerm was appointed Deputy Prime Minister under Yingluck Shinawatra, on 9 August 2011.