'What's next?" appears to be a major question for those following our political situation. Suthep Thaugsuban, affectionately called kamnan by some, has made advances in his political battle against the Yingluck Shinawatra government _ a move dubbed by Mr Suthep and later some academics as the "people's revolution" _ which so far still remains a relatively bloodless one.
But admit it, confusion has reigned since the day anti-government protest leader Mr Suthep announced his plan for a "people's council" (not to mention political reform) while rival parties are trying to break the deadlock, at the same time maximising their political gain from this very messy situation.
While the power games seem to be limited to a handful of elites who have relentlessly engaged in bargaining for a larger chunk of power, a group of people have questioned if we should allow a handful to have dominance over the people's council _ a move that is tantamount to a compromise of democratic principles.
Instead, this group of people, among them Decharut Sukkumnoed of Kasetsart University's faculty of economics, are working on another form of people's council.
Mr Decharut, who served as secretary to the now-defunct National Reform Commission, insisted that any solution to the crisis must be made under democratic principles _ nothing more, nothing less.
Last week, before the embattled prime minister announced the House dissolution in a bid for political survival, the lecturer urged the amendment of Section 291 of the constitution to embrace the people's council. He says his people's council is based on direct democracy with council members holding veto power and conducting a referendum on any issue. The council will in particular look into the issuance of organic laws under the constitution _ a mission normal politicians have overlooked.
But the House dissolution, with the election date scheduled for Feb 2, in effect quashed this option _ at least temporarily.
Yet, Mr Decharut and his comrades, have decided to go ahead with their people's council plan, adapting it for the new situation. Instead of sticking with an issue-based format, they are focusing on the process _ throwing the forum open.
And what's raised, and exchanged between the participants, in the forum will be parcelled as policy recommendations for the political parties.
This new forum is a way to empower people as the conventional issue-based forum is problematic in the way that it normally limits the power to certain people or groups of people who think they are the authority.
Needless to say, it's hoped that the problems of the nation, including corruption, the economic divide, education and populism will be on the agenda.
Mr Decharut said on his Facebook page: "This is an experiment and a move toward a genuine people's council."
The need for a people's council, either Mr Suthep's version (which some fear simply to be a shift of power from one group to another) or the alternative version, underlines the problems with our parliamentary system.
Look at the way politicians keep ignoring the law on Section 61, which stipulates the establishment of independent bodies under the constitution in the area of consumer protection, for example.
More importantly, the alternative people's council is designed in the hope of transcending colour-coded politics or the "class" (rich versus poor people) struggle as widely seen by some observers. And, Mr Decharut says, this is the way to tackle the political deadlock under the constitutional framework.
It is a way to push for the much-desired political reform.
Those who want to join his forward looking campaign should check out the Facebook page, and go to muan maha pracha kui (a great discussion) group.
Will Mr Decharut and his comrades achieve a noble goal by this small move?
It's, of course, up to the people to decide.
Ploenpote Atthakor is deputy editorial pages editor, Bangkok Post.