Pichien said on Tuesday that he was stepping down from the post. Fellow members had blamed him for the public's lack of awareness about the charter-drafting process.

Chutinant replaced Pichien by winning a vote from his committee, but a rumour spread that he was behind Pichien's resignation.

"I can't identify who was hounding him, but if you ask me I think he may have been pushed out by some charter drafters," Chutinant said.

The committee has been accused of doing nothing. Some said it should be dissolved. That was the cause of Pichien stepping down, Chutinant said.

"Members of the publicity committee have no conflict but anyone attending our debates will know our committee has been held in suspicion by other [committees]. Not only Pichien, but all of the publicity team were under pressure," he said.

Chutinant said he planned to cut the number of subcommittees from five to three. A promotional operation would start next month to build widespread understanding of the charter-drafting process.

 "Then, between April and June we will urge people to express their opinions and from June to September we will campaign for people to agree with the draft," Chutinant said.