In the ongoing saga of intra-party divisions in the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), party Chairman Devlet Bahçeli on Wednesday criticized MHP dissident Meral Akşener's alternative Ramadan Bayram – or Eid-al Fitr – party, further claiming that the U.S.-based fugitive imam, Fethullah Gülen, is behind those in the party opposed to his rule. Speaking at his party's event to celebrate Ramadan Bayram, Bahçeli said: "The only bayram celebration held by the MHP is here and today. According to the information I received, the other celebrations are only a recommendation from Fethullah Gülen's organization and a scam to get them into politics and society again. We will give this show away."
He said what is necessary will be done to MHP members involved with the alternative celebration, and added: "The requirements of our bylaws will be enforced for those members joining this celebration and a cleaning season within MHP will start now."
Prior to Bahçeli's Ramadan Bayram celebration, the alternative celebration was held by Akşener on the same day. Akşener is running for the chairmanship of the party in opposition to Bahçeli. During Akşener's speech, a group of Bahçeli supporters shouted, "The leader of our movement is Bahçeli," which resulted in a fight between supporters of the two factions. Many people were wounded and gunshots were also heard from the hotel where the celebration took place. The armed person was taken into custody.
MHP dissidents held an emergency convention on June 19, which was not sanctioned by the party administration, at which they changed party bylaws to allow for the election of a chairman at emergency conventions. The plan was to elect a new chairman at the July 10 convention. The dissidents have been fighting to remove Bahçeli, who has led the party for nearly 20 years, following the party's poor showing in last November's general elections as well as all previous ones under Bahçeli's leadership.
