Junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha's grip on power was tossed into doubt by the political cameo of a princess, but a week later his ambitions to rebrand as a civilian leader appear back on track, a survivor -- for now -- of Thailand's treacherous politics.

DEPUTY Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak yesterday hit back at unnamed politicians for accusing people in power of wooing as many former MPs as possible into a new political party being formed to support the junta chief’s return as prime minister.