The "love-hate" relationship between Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has come under the spotlight once again after they recently engaged in a war of words sparked by the ex-premier's call for reconciliation talks between old political foes.
As the general election, tentatively set for Feb 24, comes into focus, it was no surprise that Thaksin took advantage of the 12th anniversary of the Sept 19, 2006, coup that unseated him to launch a broadside against the regime, political pundits noted.
It has been speculated that the regime is forging alliances with small- and medium-sized parties to draw former MPs from their ranks to join a pro-regime party established to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's return as premier after the coming poll.
The Phalang Pracharat Party is believed to have been set up to back Gen Prayut should he decide to reclaim the premiership after the election.
In light of this, Gen Prayut is now perceived to be a potential political rival of the Pheu Thai Party, of which Thaksin is widely believed to remain de facto leader, sources said.
Thaksin posted a message on his Facebook account on Tuesday to mark 12 years since the then army chief, Gen Sonthi Boonyratglin, led an uprising against his government, which led to his self-imposed exile.
He said the country could not move forward because it was being derailed by military coups, including the putsch in 2014, which ousted the government led by his sister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Thaksin also wrote that it would be in the national interest if old foes entered into a dialogue with each other.
Gen Prawit on Wednesday brushed aside Thaksin's call for dialogue, saying Thaksin should clear his name first before thinking about talks between old rivals.
The deputy prime minister did not name Thaksin directly, but asked "who caused problems for the country?"
Just hours after Gen Prawit's remark, Thaksin posted a tweet. "The look and the tone of his voice was so stern and scary, not as sweet and soft as when asking for the army chief post," Thaksin wrote, without naming Gen Prawit.
Gen Prawit was army commander-in-chief from 2004 to 2005, when Thaksin was prime minister.
Gen Prawit succeeded Gen Chaiyasit Shinawatra, a cousin of Thaksin, as army chief while Gen Chaiyasit was shunted to the post of supreme commander.
It is widely known that the position of army chief is more powerful than that of supreme commander due to the incumbent having direct control of military combat units.
Thaksin's decision to transfer his cousin in favour of Gen Prawit taking the top army post underscored the ex-premier's trust in Gen Prawit at the time, the source said.
Also, Gen Prawit is said to have been on friendly terms with veteran politician and Pheu Thai key figure Sanoh Thienthong, whose stronghold is in Sa Kaeo.
The source said Gen Prawit has known Mr Sanoh since he was a lieutenant colonel serving in the army's Prachin Buri-based 2nd Infantry Division, Queen's Guard, which bred the powerful military clique nicknamed the Burapha Phayak (Tigers of the East).
The 2nd Infantry Division supervises security operations in the eastern provinces, which include Sa Kaeo where Mr Sanoh wields considerable political influence.
Gen Noppadon Intapanya, who is a close friend of Gen Prawit and a member of the National Legislative Assembly, is also known to have close ties with Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, another key Pheu Thai figure, the source said.
Over the past four years, since the 2014 coup that wrenched power from the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, Gen Prawit has avoided making harsh comments against Thaksin whenever the former premier has attacked the regime.
Gen Prawit has generally stuck to giving Thaksin advice to stop making trouble and return to Thailand to fight court cases against him.
Still, Gen Prawit has vehemently rejected talk of any political deal-making with Thaksin.
"I'm not Mr Deal," he once said.
Earlier this month, Gen Prawit hinted he could remain in politics after the general election early next year but that his decision would likely depend on what course of action Gen Prayut decides to take regarding his own political career.
However, Gen Prawit, who also serves as the defence minister and is a highly influential member of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has previously said he wants to rest once the NCPO steps down from power after a newly elected government is sworn in.
The deputy prime minister, now 73, said he was not in the best of health after undergoing coronary bypass surgery after a medical checkup revealed he was suffering from coronary artery disease.
In the meantime, Gen Prayut continues to remain coy over whether he will try to stay in the political fray when the poll rolls around despite having said in a Bloomberg interview in London in June that he would clarify his political future by the end of this month.
