Jaran Pakdithanakul, the subcommittee chairman, said the decision came after widespread opposition to the proposed clause.

Its decision needs to be endorsed by the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) so that changes can be made in the final charter draft.

Jaran said his panel had also agreed that the Senate should not be fully appointed but members had yet to decide how senators should be selected.

The subcommittee met for about two hours at Parliament.

Meanwhile, CDC chairman Prasong Soonsiri said yesterday that only his committee has the mandate to produce a revised charter draft.

Prasong reminded the NLA to offer just suggestions instead of trying to usurp his panel's role.

"I am not sure about the NLA coming up with the alternative draft and still believe it will offer its feedback rather than do the draft revising by itself," he said.

NLA member Wissanu Krea-ngam, who is in charge of vetting the draft for the NLA, reportedly might submit a substitute based on ideas from his colleagues.

But Wissanu said he had no idea to present a possible replacement.

The NLA's critique of the draft would compile opinions of NLA members on acceptable and non-acceptable provisions as well as on changes, he said.

"I am trying to compete with the CDC," he added.

NLA Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan said there were no plans for an alternative draft.

"What the NLA will do is present the CDC with its responses to the draft," he said.

Although objections to the draft were overwhelming, Prasong said his drafting team was willing to listen to differing viewpoints, which would be incorporated in the new draft.

He said he understood negative reactions from many political parties.

"Draft provisions have been designed to correct the flawed political system and prevent a repeat of the leadership crisis which led to the charter rewrite in the first place," he said, conceding that many articles were not favourable to politicians.

"I suggest politicians review the draft in its entirety in order to see that it has been crafted for the people and not political parties," he said.

The redrafting should commence only after all parties had the chance to comment on it, he said, dismissing a suggestion that the CDC should start reworking certain provisions right away.

The public debate on the draft is set to be completed next Friday and the CDC is expected to come up with the second draft by July 6.