Self exiled former president Mohamed Nasheed Saturday said he was 'happy' to see the mass ruling party rally insisting that a multi-party democracy was key to the development of the nation.
It was unclear whether the Tweet by Nasheed who has been granted political asylum after travelling to Britain for medical treatment in an internationally brokered deal was intended as a pun but comes in the wake of opposition accusations that government employees had been forced while others had been paid to attend the rally held Friday evening.
However, incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's faction had vehemently denied the accusations insisting that the mass turnout was voluntary and true supporters of the 'real' Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
The two Gayooms in a political wrangle for PPM control had split the party in two and the spat reached a bitter end after the younger Gayoom was handed the party reins by a court order which was later backed by the appellate courts.
Despite the falling out, president Yameen speaking during a mass party rally said it was not the same without his half brother.
The younger Gayoom insisted that party members, especially the leadership must not look to stab each other in the back.
President Yameen hit back at Gayoom who was now rallying opposition support against the government reminding his half brother's faction that PPM was still the ruling party.
"I extend warm felicitations of the party's anniversary to president Maumoon. I take this opportunity to ask president Maumoon to return to the party and show us the way," president pleaded.
"Our political stand remains the same. Our aim remains strong. That's why we're seeing this rally as a real rally."
The half brothers have been 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.
The elder Gayoom has since intensified a push to rally support to his faction and has successfully managed to even further isolate the government from key political opponents.
