Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha played down the resignation of Ticha Na Nakorn from the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) as women's rights advocates gear up for a fresh campaign to highlight gender equality in the new charter.
Ms Ticha's decision to step down from both the NRC and the CDC triggered speculation about internal CDC conflicts over the recognition of gender disparities in decision-making.
Ms Ticha wanted political parties seeking to run in elections to have gender quotas, with at least one-third of the minority gender represented in their membership.
Announcing her resignation, Ms Ticha said she found herself a "fish in the wrong water". Gen Prayut responded Sunday saying he did not understand what she meant.
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He said if Ms Ticha felt she could not continue working with the NRC and the CDC she was free to resign and there was no reason for him to inquire into her reasons.
The prime minister said the charter drafting process would not be affected and all parties concerned would consider if a replacement was necessary. He also thanked the former NRC and CDC member for her contribution.
Meanwhile, Sunee Chaiyarot, an adviser to the Women's Movement in Thai Political Reform (WeMove), said Ms Ticha stepped down because her gender equality demands were unwelcome to several CDC members.
"I think this [gender equality in decision-making process] is partly the reason along with other rights issues. We respect her decision to quit," Ms Sunee told a seminar titled "Women in the Northeast and the new charter", in Khon Kaen Sunday.
WeMove was also active immediately after the 2006 coup in an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to try to get the military authorities to include gender equality enshrined in their constitution of 2007.
Ms Sunee, who is also vice-president of the Law Reform Commission of Thailand, said the women's movement would launch a campaign to keep up the push for gender equality in the charter.
According to Ms Sunee, the draft charter has failed to recognise gendered politics as a factor which affects decision-making in Thailand.
The draft lags behind the 2007 constitution, she said, warning that more problems would follow.
The CDC's response to Ms Ticha demonstrated it was not truly open to suggestions, she said. Women's rights groups will clarify their demands on International Women's Day next Sunday, she added.
Muan Tinwilai, a supporter of WeMove from Kalasin province, urged the public not to regard Ms Ticha's resignation as a simple attempt to gain public attention. She said the case reflects how calls for gender equality often go unheard.
Ms Muan said the alliance of women's groups from four regions had earlier forwarded suggestions on gender recognition to the CDC but they had fallen on deaf ears. She called on CDC members in support of gender quotas to push on with the fight.