Ousted ruling party leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom suffered a major to his ongoing efforts to put pressure on the government after two more lawmakers switched support to his half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The two Gayooms in a political wrangle for ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) control had split the party in two and the spat reached a bitter end after the younger Gayoom was handed the PM reins by a court order which was later backed by the appellate courts.
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.
Eight lawmakers, late last month led by Gayoom's lawmaker son Faaris Maumoon had held a press conference declaring the faction "Gayoom's parliamentary group."
A day later a few lawmakers had seemingly backtracked on their decision to back the elder Gayoom. after pictured with top members of president Yameen's faction.
But two lawmakers, including outspoken Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem publicly announced the withdrawal of their support for the elder Gayoom.
Saleem told reporters that he had been forced to yield to public pressure, pleading him to back president Yameen.
Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau echoed Saleem's sentiments by adding that he had received assurances that the president would address the concerns he had over the government.
However, Saleem's decision comes in the wake of what he he previously called a crackdown on his businesses.
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) had threatened to cancel an agreement with local supermarket chain 'Redwave' owned by Saleem to operate an outlet in the reclaimed suburb Hulhumale.
HDC Managing Director Mohamed Saiman had told Avas that under the agreement 'Redwave' was required to open a supermarket and a cafe within six months of signing the agreement entered last December.
However, as the deadline expired on June 16 this year, the supermarket chain had failed to open the cafe, Saiman said.
According to Saiman, HDC had sent several reminders before finally being forced to send the notice of annulment of the agreement.
However, Saleem was earlier quoted by several local media outlets having accused the government of attempting to put his business under pressure due to his political affiliations.
The loss of two lawmakers would be a major blow to Gayoom who had recently admitted that the parliament was his half brother's "source of power".
