Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's brother, Celal Kılıçdaroğlu, submitted his resignation from CHP on Thursday after he was on Wednesday referred to the disciplinary committee of the CHP to be disbarred indefinitely from the party.
CHP Deputy Chairman Tekin Bingöl said in a statement that Celal Kılıçdaroğlu and his actions were constantly associated with CHP Chairman Kılıçdaroğlu, which caused unrest in the party.
Stating that everyone was responsible for their own actions, Bingöl said that Celal Kılıçdaroğlu was disbarred from the party with the decision of the CHP Central Executive Committee, and upon Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's request.
Celal Kılıçdaroğlu and a group of some 20 marchers on Monday walked nearly 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Söke to the Aegean resort town of Didim, in protest of he Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
With a banner that read "FETÖ members tricked my brother too," referring to the CHP chairman who also supported the march, Celal Kılıçdaroğlu led the marchers.
Speaking to reporters, he said the march was meant to highlight links between Didim Mayor Deniz Atabay and Erkan Karaarslan, who were arrested in the southeastern Mersin province as part of a FETÖ investigation.
He also said that he would start a "death fast" to expose the affiliation between the municipality and FETÖ, sparking criticism from some CHP deputies.The protesters had placed a black wreath in front of the Didim Municipality building over alleged transfers of money to FETÖ.
Led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, FETÖ is accused of orchestrating Turkey's July 15 coup plot as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through infiltrating Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and the judiciary.At least 246 people were killed during the July 15 putsch attempt that saw an unprecedented public resistance against coup plotters. By the morning of July 16, the coup was quelled as police, military staff opposing the coup and unarmed civilians put on a strong fight to stop the troops loyal to FETÖ.