Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim has been elected as the parliamentary group leader of the Democrats, a new party formed by a breakaway faction of the ruling MDP.

Azim, who had previously served as MDP’s top lawmaker, was elected as the Democrats’ PG leader with the unanimous vote of 11 MPs who took part in the vote.

Meanwhile, Gadhdhoo MP Ahmed Zahir, and Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde), were elected as deputy PG leaders.

Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde) was elected as the parliamentary group’s secretary-general, and North Mahchangolhi MP Mohamed Rasheed was elected as the whip.

Azim’s expulsion from the MDP in May had been the catalyst, which triggered a dozen MPs loyal to then-leader Mohamed Nasheed to walk out of the party, and form the Democrats.

Nasheed resigned from MDP in June, and signed with the Democrats in July.

The Democrats are now the minority party at the Parliament, which makes Ali Azim the legislative body’s new minority leader.

The party had also contested in this year’s presidential election, placing third with seven percent of votes, making it the most highly sought-after party as MDP and the main opposition PPM-PNC face the election runoff later this month.