Embattled ruling party leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom continued his push to rally key figures to his side as three more government lawmakers publicly pledged support to the former president.
The latest lawmakers to join the elder Gayoom's faction amid an ugly power struggle for Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) control with half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom were parliament member for Eydhafushi, Ahmed Saleem, Parliament Member for Dhidhdhoo, Abdul Latheef Mohamed and the Parliament Member for Thinadhoo Saudulla Hilmy.
During a press conference headed by Gayoom's lawmaker son Faaris Maumoon, the now eight lawmakers declared themselves "Gayoom's parliamentary group."
Except for Latheef, the rest of the lawmakers had recently publicly criticized and voted against government whip-lines in parliament.
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.
Gayoom later suspended the internal committees of the party after one voted his son out of the party for breaking a whip-line.
Two government lawmakers then filed a civil lawsuit against the elder Gayoom claiming that the ruling party had been hijacked.
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 High Court had upheld the court order granting full control of 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 elder Gayoom has now challenged the ruling at the country's top court.
