The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is demanding those behind the botched draft charter must take responsibility for its failure.
The National Reform Council (NRC) voted 135–105 on Sunday to reject the charter, with seven abstentions.
The UDD said the entire charter process, from forming a draft panel to the vote, had no legitimacy and did not conform with democratic principles, adding it must not be allowed to take place again.
"The charter drafting centered on individuals and adhering to the wishes of those in supreme power is unacceptable in democratic terms. This will affect the confidence of people at home and overseas," the group said.
It called for the immediate restoration of the now-abolished 1997 constitution.
Following the rejection of the draft charter, a 21-member drafting committee will be set up within the next 30 days. This panel will be required to draft a new charter within 180 days.
Suriyasai Katasila, deputy dean for Rangsit University's College of Social Innovation, said the make-up of the new panel will indicate whether the new draft would be an improvement.
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He called on the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to speed up reform in key areas including inequality, policing, corruption, power decentralisation and energy.
Meanwhile, NCPO spokesman Winthai Suvaree said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked the NRC and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), both now defunct, for their hard work. He said the vote result should not be used to stir up conflict.
NRC member Sira Janejakha, who supported the charter, said there was heavy lobbying from senior officials to vote against it.
However, his colleague Wanchai Sornsiri, who voted no, said neither Gen Prayut nor his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon asked the NRC to overturn the draft constitution.
Former CDC chairman Borwornsak Uwanno said he regretted that the charter, which had aimed to empower people, would not see the light of day, blaming the media for giving too much attention to politicians' opinions. He added he would not join a new charter drafting panel.
Anusorn Iamsa-ard, acting deputy spokesman of the Pheu Thai Party, said the public should keep a close eye on whether the NRC members who voted down the draft charter would be appointed to the National Reform Steering Committee by the NCPO, perhaps as a "reward" for rejecting the charter.
Meanwhile, Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said he wanted to appeal to all parties to improve the charter to bring about reform.
''The good things should be kept, and weak points fixed."
Activists from the New Democracy Movement and affiliated groups called for the new draft charter to be written with the public's participation.
Rangsiman Rome, a student activist, said the charter must come from the people as their rights are enshrined in a constitution.
Sirawit Serithiwat, from the Democracy Study group, called for the new charter drafting panel members to be elected. He said it was the only way to ensure the process was transparent and represented the public's interests.
Student activists said the charter vote was "another act of a theatrical show" orchestrated by the NCPO.
They vowed to campaign against the government if it appointed the new charter drafters instead of electing them.
"We have never accepted the NCPO's orders and are not afraid," said Mr Rangsiman.
Federation of Thai Industries chairman Suphan Mongkulsuthee said the decision to reject the draft charter would not affect investors.
Issara Wongkusolkij, the Thai Chamber of Commerce chairman, said that as long as the country was peaceful, trade and investment would flourish.
UNWANTED: After the vote by the National Reform Council on Sunday, members left their copies of the dead draft constitution behind. (Post Today)