Kulhudhuffushi Uthuru MP Yasir Abdul Latheef, Mayor Mohamed Athif and other city council members have left The Democrats and rejoined the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Yasir was among 13 MPs who left the MDP to form The Democrats led by Speaker Mohamed Nasheed. All of the Kulhudhuffushi city council members joined the new party on May 30.
At the time, Mayor Athif wrote on Facebook that he made the decision because of public complaints over the government's failure to complete work pledged for the island.
The MDP has confirmed their return to Adhadhu, but neither MP Yasir nor the city council members has publicly commented on the reason for leaving The Democrats.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih along with senior MDP leaders met with Yasir and the city councilors on Tuesday night.
Earlier this month, Alif Alif Rasdhoo council president Mohamed and vice president Abdulla Anil also left The Democrats and rejoined the MDP.
At a press briefing on Wednesday morning, Democrats presidential campaign spokesman MP Imthiyaz Fahmy said in response to a question from Adhadhu that there were no internal problems within the party.
"Ordinary members who join this party are not leaving. Members who joined this party because they believe in our principles and philosophy did not do so at all for the sake of a post or advancement," he said.
Members who joined from Kulhudhuffushi remain as Democrats and the party expects good support from the island, he added.
The Democrats was formed by MPs loyal to Nasheed after the former president lost the MDP primary to President Solih on January 28.
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb is contesting in the September 9 presidential election on The Democrats' ticket. His running mate is Hussain Amr, former managing director of the State Trading Organization (STO).
