The Democrats on Monday set up camp and launched a membership drive at the meeting hall of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in front of the artificial beach in Male'.
The Democrats opened its own meeting hall at the premises after the owner issued an eviction notice to the MDP, but the ruling party has filed a lawsuit at the civil court to challenge the eviction.
The owner of the plot is former MDP activist Shafiyya Zubair. The order to vacate the main meeting hall came in late March amid worsening strife between rival factions of the MDP.
Former MDP activist Shafiyya Zubair. -- Photo: Abdulla Iyan/ Adhadhu
Speaking to reporters who were invited by The Democrats to the meeting hall opening ceremony, Shafiyya said she has leased the building to a businessperson with the authority to sublease it.
The Democrats rented the premises under a sublease agreement with the businessperson, the party has confirmed.
"Another party coming here is not something that concerns us. We leased this place to a businessperson. It would be best to clarify from The Democrats whether they rented on a sublease," Shafiyya said.
The MDP previously said that despite the expiration of the lease agreement for the meeting hall, the owner assured the party that it could remain until the end of the upcoming presidential election.
The Democrats conduct their membership drive - Photo: Abdulla Iyan/Adhadhu
Since former president Mohamed Nasheed lost the MDP's primary on January 28, his supporters acted as separate faction under the name of 'Fikurrege Dhirun.' The eviction notice also came after the primary.
Nasheed's supporters decided to leave the MDP and form a new party after MP Ali Azim was expelled by the MDP's disciplinary committee.
Together with Azim, 13 MPs who support Nasheed have resigned from the MDP. But Nasheed remains in the MDP. It is unclear why Nasheed, who is also the speaker of parliament, is staying in the MDP.
The Democrats, which is formed under Nasheed's instruction, has also announced that it would field a candidate in this year's presidential election.
