Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Wednesday axed electoral committee member Ali Rasheed after accusing him of spearheading a smear campaign against party leader and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on social media.
The five member behavioral committee had reviewed a complaint against Rasheed and unanimously voted to remove him.
In a letter, the party's Secretary General, Abdulla Khaleel said Rasheed was slandering the party on social media in an attempt to incite hatred towards the party's chief adviser, while being a responsible member of a top committee.
The High Court Sunday upheld a lower court order granting full control of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to president Yameen in the capacity of the chief advisor -- a default post offered to the party's successful presidential candidate under the party charter.
The three judge bench of the appellate court found no grounds to overturn the civil court order, ruling that handing over party control to president Yameen was in the "best interest of the party."
The civil lawsuit filed by two ruling party lawmakers had accused the elder Gayoom of violating party charter by refusing to hold council sit-downs and suspending its internal committees.
Gayoom lost the lawsuit after the Civil Court last week found him guilty of violating the constitution, party charter and the political party law.
The elder Gayoom has since challenged the ruling at the Supreme Court.
A party member had appealed the court order prompting Gayoom to immediately intervene in the case, later questioning the motive and relevance of the appellant to the case.
Despite the civil court order, Gayoom had rallied council members loyal to him, filled the vacant secretary general's post and sealed his decision to oust three council members loyal to his half brother, including deputy party leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla.
President Yameen, a few hours later had chaired a council sit-down of his own and appointed a secretary general, effectively splitting the ruling party into two factions.
The half brothers have locked in a bitter power struggle ever since the elder Gayoom publicly urged lawmakers to vote down a government proposed amendment to the tourism Act.
Since then, Gayoom and his lawmaker son, Faaris Maumoon has continued to publicly criticize the government policies and recent legislation.
Despite the fallout, president Yameen has refused to hit-back at his elder half brother insisting that the former president still has his utmost respect and admiration.
