Male: Ousted Maldivian President Mohammad Nasheed`s party has removed its chief and his deputy from their respective positions by passing a no confidence motion against them at the party`s National Congress here.
The motion against Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) President Ibrahim Didi and his deputy Alhan Fahmy was passed during an emergency meeting of the party`s National Congress at Dharubaaruge last evening.
The two leaders had become subject to heavy criticism from within the party recently.
MDP Secretary General Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said the motion against the two leaders was submitted following numerous requests by party members. He, however, refused to disclose any details in relation to the issue.
The MDP National Congress comprising a total of 118 members, 69 had voted against both Didi and Alhan out of the 73 members present.
Didi was the Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture during the time of President Nasheed`s government. Alhan is the MP of Feydhoo Constituency at Addu City.
A large contingent of members present at the meeting accused both Didi and Alhan of acting in violation of the resolution passed by the party on February 8 to undermine the harmony within MDP.
Though Didi had decided not to be present at the meeting, Alhan had taken part and spoke in his defense. Alhan stressed that he had not associated himself with the government in power through a `coup` and refuted claims that he had been working to undermine the harmony of the party.
He further requested Hamid to submit details of such violations if there were any.
Alhan noted that he had not cooperated with `traitors` in anything, and that the claims made against him are unsubstantiated.
He said that he was not given the opportunity to conduct programs within the party in his capacity as a leader of the party. As a result, he has not been able to fulfill the promises made to party members during MDP elections.
The members of the MDP National Congress had also dismissed a notion to allow both President and Vice President of the party the opportunity to defend themselves.
Just before the voting, Alhan left the meeting citing that he did not wish to vote in a matter concerning himself.
Members of MDP present to witness the proceedings had verbally abused Alhan and called him a `traitor`.
Speaking to Sun Online news after the vote, Didi said that he will obtain legal advice and take necessary actions to save the party from undemocratic practices.
Meanwhile, Nasheed held a meeting with Vice President H E Mohamed Waheed Deen at his private home at Bandos Island Resort, which was confirmed by the government officials too.
However, the details of the meeting were not available.
PTI
