The emergence of "cobras", a term known in Thai politics as politicians who defy their party's orders, within the seven-party alliance led by the Pheu Thai Party and the intentional "stupid mistake" voting of a group of Palang Pracharath Party MPs on whether the vote on the election of the House speaker should be postponed or not are a clear reflection of the true colours of several politicians.
In public or in front of the media, these politicians will unashamedly talk about their obligations to the people as the first priority but, in reality, their vested interests come first.
The seven parties of the self-proclaimed pro-democracy camp started pointing fingers at one another after it was found out that seven votes which should have gone to their candidate for the House speakership, Sompong Amornwiwat of the Pheu Thai Party, went conspicuously missing.
The seven "missing votes" of the unidentified "cobras" were believed to have gone to the opposite side as Chuan Leekpai, the Democrat Party's chief adviser, won the race for the House speaker's job with an unexpected 258 votes which is more than the 253 combined votes of the Palang Pracharat-led alliance plus the Bhumjaithai and the Democrat parties.
Chai Chidchob, acting House speaker, on Saturday called for MPs to vote on whether to postpone the House speaker election after it became clear that a number of politicians, mostly from the pro-military PPRP, had not returned to the session.
Their immediate absence posed a question about a quorum.
The rumours of the emergence of "cobras" started to make the rounds in earnest a few days ahead of the vote after Mingkwan Saengsuwan, leader of the New Economics party, which has six MPs in the House, quit his post, claiming he had already accomplished his mission and it was about time for the deputy leader to take the helm of the party.
Since the vote was a secret ballot, it will not be easy for the Pheu Thai camp to find out who the seven "cobras" are and they may have to live with the fact that they may strike again in the future.
Meanwhile, Anucha Nakasai, PPRP-Chai Nat, reportedly admitted that he and a group of fellow MPs intentionally voted against the postponement of the vote for House speaker.
It was Nakhon Sawan MP Weerakron Khamprakob of the PPRP who asked for the postponement.
There were reports that the party was split over voting for Mr Chuan as House speaker as the so-called Sam Mitr faction were insisting on nominating Suchart Tancharoen for the top legislative post as a matter of honour for the veteran politician who had served as deputy House speaker before.
The intentional "wrong voting" resulted in the Palang Pracharath camp's first defeat in the House.
However, the party managed to resolve its internal conflict with the Sam Mitr faction over Mr Chuan's nomination and the vote for the House speakership later proceeded.
Besides the noisy protests and boos, which are commonplace in parliament anywhere, the problems of "cobras" and back-stabbing are typical of Thai parliament especially in a coalition government of many parties.
Even though the horse-trading, especially between the Democrats and the PPRP, is still not settled, it is almost certain that the group will be able to form the government with a slim majority.
The intentional "stupid mistakes" of a group of PPRP in the voting on Saturday which gave the alliance its first taste of defeat, albeit insignificant, in parliament should serve as a reminder to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that he no longer has the luxury of being able to bang the table when he wants something and nor does he have the ear of everybody as he has become accustomed to getting over the past five years.
Without the magic wand of Section 44 of the interim constitution, he will be in the real world of Thai politics working with some veteran politicians whose track records leave much to be desired.
The 11 smaller parties in the coalition, which earlier announced they wouldn't demand anything for their support of Gen Prayut's return, are yet to show their true colours.
As the popular saying goes: "Nothing is free in this world." Even if he has solid military backing, Prime Minister Prayut will soon realise that dealing with power-starved politicians may well be hell on Earth after five years of leading a ruling junta.
Veera Prateepchaikul is former editor, Bangkok Post.