Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) late Tuesday officially removed four rebel lawmakers from the party amid a struggle to regain its majority in parliament.
PPM has been devastated by a revolt after as many as 10 lawmakers backed an opposition led move to unseat the parliament speaker Abdulla Maseeh earlier this month.
However, barring Dhidhdhoo lawmaker Abdul Latheef Mohamed, PPM had previously axed Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, Maduvvaree MP Mohamed Ameeth and Villingili MP Saud Hussain after they publicly announced allegiance to deposed PPM leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
The elder Gayoom had an ugly falling out with half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom which split the party in two while the former publicly withdrew support for the younger Gayoom earlier this year.
The dismissal of the four lawmakers was announced after an impromptu council sit-down chaired by president Yameen late Tuesday. The dismissals were officially conveyed to the parliament and the elections commission soon after.
The recent Supreme Court ruling anti-defection means that all four lawmakers have now been automatically disqualified despite the opposition claiming otherwise.
PPM has been accused of engineering the constitutional dispute case asking the Supreme Court to disqualify MPs who defect or violate party whip-lines.
The three judge bench hearing the case unanimously ruled in favour of the government. The court had also ordered relevant institutions to bring into effect an anti-defection law.
The move was designed to prevent as many as 10 PPM lawmakers from leaving the party after they backed an opposition led move to unseat the parliament speaker.
As the AG was filing the constitutional case, Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla, Thimarafushi MP Mohamed Musthafa and South-Thinadhoo MP Abdulla Mohamed officially asked to leave the party to join south-Machchangoalhi MP Abdulla Sinan, Villingili MP Saud Hussain and North-Thinadhoo MP Saudulla Hilmy to quit the party last week.
Dhihdhoo lawmaker Abdul Latheef Mohamed and Hanimaadhoo lawmaker Hussain Shahudhee also left the ruling party earlier followed by Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed last Sunday.
North-Fuvahmulah MP Ali Shah late Tuesday also quit the party taking the tally of lawmakers to leave the embattled ruling party to 10 decimating the once mighty ruling coalition as the parliament minority.
The ruling party however, has refused to allow the lawmakers to leave saying that their requests can only be processed after their respective disciplinary hearing are concluded.