Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef has left the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Shareef announced his departure from the MDP - the country's oldest political party and the first of Shareef's political career - in a group with party members on Monday night.
Shareef did not reveal any reasons. He has not been responding to phone calls.
Shareef submitted his resignation letter to the MDP earlier on Monday, Adhadhu has learned.
Some MPs say Shareef left the party because he wishes to step away from politics. But the MPs were unsure of his reasons.
According to close associates of Shareef, he left the MDP to make way for those who want projects started in Maradhoo by the previous government to continue without interruption. But they did not provide any details.
Shareef first joined the MDP when multi-party politics was introduced. But he left the party, joined former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and played a leading role in the party. He later returned to the MDP.
Shareef is among the longest-serving MPs currently in parliament and one of the veteran lawmakers who preside over sittings.
His resignation leaves the MDP with 55 MPs.
Shareef's departure from the main opposition party came after the Foreign Ministry on December 20 extended the tenure of his daughter Mariyam Mizna Shareef as Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia.
She will remain in the post until March next year, a Foreign Ministry official confirmed to Adhadhu.
After President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's victory in September's election, the Foreign Ministry asked all political appointees at Maldivian High Commissions and embassies abroad to return to the country by November 18. Their diplomatic passports would also be canceled by December, the ministry informed the appointees.
The order was made at the behest of the Transition Office. Some officials at overseas missions then requested extensions from the new government.
The government has not disclosed which appointees of the previous administration remain in their posts at the overseas missions or have been reappointed.
Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government faced criticism for appointing family members of politicians to High Commission posts.
