The civil court has ruled against the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in a lawsuit submitted by the party to challenge the eviction from its main meeting hall in Male’ city.
The ruling party sought a court order to stop the eviction after the owner of the property located in front of the artificial beach issued an eviction notice in late March.
The owner of the plot is former MDP activist Shafiyya Zubair. The order to vacate the main meeting hall came amid worsening strife between rival factions of the MDP.
In a statement, MDP said that despite the expiration of the lease agreement for the meeting hall, the owner assured the party that they could remain until the end of the upcoming presidential election. But no agreements were signed.
Since former president Mohamed Nasheed lost the MDP's primary on January 28, his supporters acted as a 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 called The Democrats 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 on Monday set up camp and launched a membership drive at MDP’s meeting hall. They also removed posters of president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and repainted the walls.
“We condemn the group that hijacked the meeting hall and damaged the party’s property while the issue is ongoing at the court,” the ruling party said before losing the lawsuit.
The Democrats, which is formed under Nasheed's instruction, has also announced that it would field a candidate in this year's presidential election.
Translated by Saya Ahmed
