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"I whispered to him why he was angry at me but he has not yet answered my question," Abhisit said.

Chuan, who was in the meeting room, laughed, prompting other MPs to laugh along with him.

The incident might be taken lightly. But if Chuan told Abhisit that he was angry, then there must be a good reason. After all, Abhisit considers Chuan his mentor. Chuan has also proved to be one of the most respected politicians in his long career. He was involved in the formation process of several of the previous administrations.

Chuan, like Abhisit, had to preside over a government of several coalition parties. Yet, Chuan managed to balance the power play and attracted good people to oversee the economic areas such as Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi and Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda, who did a thankless job in reviving the Thai economy after the financial crisis in 1997.

Abhisit is already facing criticism from both inside and outside the parties over the Cabinet line-up. Expectations from the new premier were huge due to his youthful image and his enthusiastic speech to restore confidence in the economy.

However, immediately after the prospective line-up was leaked to the press, Abhisit disappointed his fans, including his mentor Chuan. We won't have to repeat who are the disappointing candidates. But Abhisit might have to spend time pondering what Chuan might have said to him.