It's not ventriloquism

Theptai explains the dire remark as another effort to make politics more "colourful" by a man in an awkward position - "the gap between the party spokesman and the government spokesman".

He's an MP, and the law bars MPs from being government spokesmen. Meanwhile the academics recruited for the job tend to shy away from the counter-attacks that sometimes become necessary.

And party spokesmen can't tackle topics that involve the premier but not the party.

So Theptai, formerly best known for hammering then-prime minister Samak Sundaravej and the Pheu Thai Party's Chalerm Yoobamrung in a House debate, got the nod as Abhisit's mouthpiece.

The boss seems pleased so far, although Abhisit has warned him to tone it down a bit.

"I might have spoken too harshly," Theptai admits. "My nature isn't just to counter tit-for-tat, but to hit back with even more."

Theptai says he keeps Abhisit's position foremost in mind, but when it comes to countering attacks on his boss, he speaks his own mind without hesitation.

He tries to be careful not to hurt Abhisit's image, but usually his remarks are spontaneous, and sometimes caustic.

The Nakhon Si Thammarat MP and assistant to party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban believes he was a good choice for the job as PM's spokesman because he knows him well and was on the debate club at school, so he thinks fast and articulates well.

At 48 he's three years older than Abhisit will be tomorrow. Both wanted to be politicians at a young age, and their children have attended the same school. They'd drop off the kids, then meet at party headquarters.

Theptai backed Abhisit for the party leadership from the start, including against Banyat Bantadtan.

Currently Theptai and Abhisit meet at least twice a week, and many times a day during crises.

Abhisit will phone him or send a text message, but usually it's Theptai who approaches the premier, and he's never turned away.

"I'm his personal spokesman, and I can talk to him personally," he says.

Theptai acknowledges that their personalities are different - no one would mix him up with the "quiet" Abhisit. "The only time I'm quiet is when I'm sleeping."

But he's not harsh, he insists, and in fact quite light-hearted.

"The prime minister and I are the same when it comes to not staying angry with people. We discuss things and leave it at that - no hard feelings afterwards."

Does the PM's spokesman aspire to a loftier speaking job? Theptai says the government spokesman's post requires someone who's well versed in almost every subject, and that lets him out.

And he prefers to be an MP anyway.

"I've felt since I was a kid that an MP is a very big position - the people's representative. The other work I do is just surplus. Only the people can appoint you MP - tens of thousand of them."

Theptai says he personally knows the sharp-tongued politicians Sunai Jullapongsatorn and Jatuporn Promphan of Pheu Thai. Jatuporn was his junior at Ramkhamhaeng University. Chalerm Yoobamrung is an acquaintance of his wife's family.

Theptai was the son-in-law of the late Pol Roengprasertwit, the veteran politician and pineapple magnate who was close to Chai Chidchob, now with the Bhum Jai Thai Party.

The son of a poor farmer who served as a Democrat canvasser, Theptai got to know politics as a boy and helped on several campaigns.

He was elected to lead student groups both in junior high and high school and, upon entering national politics, played the popularity gambit with the slogan "Know me and you'll love me". He still uses it today.

It's part of an MP's job to take flak from political adversaries, particularly in hard times, and Theptai says he tries to take all the negative feedback positively.

In fact, he's planning to put printed copies of all the attacks directed against him on display on his first anniversary in the job as PM's spokesman.

He assesses his effectiveness according to these attacks, judging by their severity whether his remarks have hit the bull's eye.

"When I hit Thaksin hard his supporters get really angry. That's when I know I did a good job!"