Three supporters of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have been suspended from the Fenaka office in Noonu Miladhoo after the ruling party lost the seat for the island's Women's Development Committee (WDC).
MDP candidate Aminath Azuma won the Miladhoo WDC seat in the by-election vote on Saturday.
According to documents obtained by Adhadhu, some employees of the Miladhoo Fenaka office were suspended for two weeks (14 days) because a complaint had been reported against them. The suspension notice was prepared on Sunday.
The main opposition party condemned the utility company's action and said it was connected to the by-election result.
In a statement on Sunday night, MDP said the party supporters were suspended without a valid reason.
"The low support to the government is not an excuse to isolate and suspend a person from his job," the statement read.
The party also said that contesting and voting in elections is a right guaranteed to every citizen by the Constitution and it is a very cowardly act of this government to take action based on political affiliation against those who exercise that right.
Earlier, the opposition party said its candidates won seats despite government influence on the by-elections.
Candidates were elected for the WDC in 12 constituencies and a councillor was elected for one local council. The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) fielded candidates for all positions and won nine seats.
MDP candidates contested six seats and won two. There were six independent candidates out of which two defeated ruling party candidates.
Additionally, the government won 24 seats without an election because there was only one candidate
