Protesters gathered in Bangkok yesterday amid outrage over a 'sham election' as military-appointed senators blocked national poll winner Pita Limjaroenrat from becoming prime minister.

A swarm of furious locals rallied in the Thai capital on Sunday, July 16, slamming the parliament vote that thwarted the Move Forward Party leader from taking power.

Footage shows dozens of Pita's supporters riding bikes and pick-up trucks during a noise barrage through an intersection in Bangkok.

They met at the city's Victory Monument, then drove through the headquarters of the army, navy, and police before settling at the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre to deliver speeches.

Protest leader Arnon Nampa said the demonstration was held to pressure six military chiefs-turned-senators, whom he named as Ministry of Defence's permanent secretary General Sanitchanok Sangkachan, Chiefs of Defence Forces General Chalermpol Srisawat, Army chief General Narongpan Jitkaewthae, Navy chief Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, Air Force chief Air Chief Marshall Alongkorn Vannarot, and National Police chief Police General Damrongsak Kittiprapas.

In a speech, Arnon said that 'over 70 per cent of voters' favoured pro-democracy parties, with the Pita's Move Forward Party receiving more than 14 million votes despite its anti-monarchy stance.

He said: 'The reluctance to choose Pita as Prime Minister based on his plans to amend the lèse-majesté law was merely an excuse.

'The real reason behind the senators' vote was their fear of pro-democracy MPs who could bring about significant societal changes.'

He added that incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and Deputy Prime Minister, Prawit Wongsuwon were scared of Pita coming into power, as they might face legal charges over the violent military crackdown on the 2010 Red Shirt protests.

Arnon urged the members of Pita's eight-party political alliance to 'remain united and steadfast'.

Harvard University graduate Pita Limjaroenrat of the liberal Move Forward Party won the vote on May 15 but still needed the approval of the army, through votes cast by their 250 hand-picked senators.

However, he was blocked by the army through a vote in parliament on Thursday, July 13. The result could lead to months of political stalemate with the monarchy-controlled junta desperate to avoid reform of a system that has seen royals and establishment elite amass vast wealth.

The protesters urged the senators to 'honour the will of the people and uphold democracy' by selecting Pita as prime minister. They slammed the MPs and senators who abstained, calling them 'spineless'.

Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said the next vote for prime minister is scheduled on July 19 and 20 - with Pita unlikely to make the breakthrough needed due to stubborn resistance against his plans to drag some of Thailand's benighted social practices into the modern age.

Meanwhile, the Move Forward Party has submitted a draft registration seeking to abolish Section 272 of the constitution, which aims to remove the voting rights of senators in the selection of the prime minister.

Following the political chaos, the British Embassy in Bangkok issued an update to their Thailand Travel Advice warning tourists. They said ' the political situation can be unpredictable and has led to periods of civil and political unrest' and urged British nationals to 'avoid protests, political gatherings, demonstrations and marches'.