So when the two meet, one can be sure that "national reconciliation" to restore normalcy to the political system is the last thing they would care to talk about.

The so-called "shark-fin soup diplomacy" between caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Chat Thai leader Banharn Silapa-archa last week could at best be a signal of "political collusion", or at worst an attempt to further divide an already confused public.

First of all, neither Thaksin nor Banharn has the credibility necessary to talk about national reconciliation.

In fact, being the root cause of the current political turmoil, Thaksin should know that he is the problem and not the solution - that is, of course, unless he is willing to take a conciliatory step by resigning now.

But at least Thaksin got what he wanted: no cameras and no microphones but, nevertheless, enough publicity to trigger another round of speculation and some unease among his political opponents.

Though the real motive for the meeting is anybody's guess, it does say something about Thaksin's political agenda. And it doesn't look like that agenda includes plans to yield to pressure to step aside - now or even after the snap election.

The media has repeatedly quizzed Thaksin about his political future, but he has sidestepped questions about whether he will make a comeback or take a break if his Thai Rak Thai Party sweeps the October election. He has no qualms about leaving his constituents in the dark when they cast their ballots in the October election.

With his political clout and wealth, Thaksin apparently still hopes he can legitimise his power through numbers. And despite all of the adversity he is facing, he insists on leaving his options open and is unlikely to make a decision until he is forced to do so or until he has the upper hand. So any speculation about Thaksin going on a political hiatus after the election in October is definitely premature. For one thing, his Thai Rak Thai Party, despite some setbacks in recent months, remains the country's most formidable political machine both in terms of popularity and financial readiness.

What Thaksin and his party now require is some semblance of legitimacy. They hope that this can be achieved partly through the ballot box, even though the party can no longer expect a helping hand from a new and less friendly Election Commission. The party's ability to form political alliances can also be seen as another endorsement of its credibility.

In Thaksin's eyes, Banharn is obviously the "soft spot" in the political alliance against him. Banharn and his Chat Thai Party are best known for their strong instincts when it comes to political survival. Their boycott of the aborted April-2 election was more of an accident than a show of political principle.

Banharn said it all when he inadvertently confided to journalists many years back that nothing could be worse for political parties than being in the opposition. His famous quote: "If you are in the opposition, be prepared to starve."

One bitter lesson that Thaksin must have learned from his turbulent years in office is that big is not necessarily always better - at least in Thai politics, when the larger you are, the more of a prime target you become. Thaksin fulfilled his ambitions to secure one-party rule after Thai Rak Thai swept the general election in February of last year, but his "go it alone" style of leadership backfired. In the end, his absolute majority rule became the equivalent of a parliamentary dictatorship.

So it shouldn't surprise anyone if the discussion that Thaksin and Banharn had over their shark-fin soup focused on how their two parities could form a post-election alliance. Such a move would serve the two politicians' mutual interests. Thaksin wants a Thai Rak Thai-led government to be less prone to criticism that it monopolises power, while Banharn hopes to bring his party out of the political wilderness.

But it would be an insult to Banharn's political intelligence to assume that he is laying all his cards on the table.

A shrewd politician like Banharn knows that Thaksin probably needs him more than the other way round.

The meeting last week was probably just the first in a series of negotiations in shark-fin soup diplomacy that is likely to intensify as both parties gear up for the upcoming election. Thaksin needs all of the publicity he can get to counter the perception that his Thai Rak Thai Party is being isolated, while Banharn will not relent until he strikes the best bargain for his party.

Despite all the media hype, forget about national reconciliation. What we are witnessing is nothing more than typical Thai-style political collusion with a modern touch.

 Thepchai Yong