A majority of MPs of the ruling party has voiced their disapproval of the anti-defection bill, meant to remove lawmakers that change parties after getting elected.

While the anti-defection bill has been sent to parliament, a meeting was held on Wednesday by the ruling PPM-MDA coalition to discuss it.

Attorney General Mohamed Anil also attended the meeting at Muliaage, the official residence of the President.

The meeting had extended to two hours, and one ruling party MP told RaajjeTV on the condition of anonymity that there weren’t even three members that approved of the bill as it is, and that they have voiced their concerns to the attorney general, who had said that he did not wish to take back the bill but that “some” changes could be made in parliament.

The MP expressed concern that the bill will attempt to override the Constitution which has already laid out the conditions on which a lawmaker can be removed.

The anti-defection bill, proposed by PPM’s Parliamentary Group leader Ahmed Nihan, was read in Wednesday’s sitting and will be debated next week and then sent to the committee for evaluation.

The anti-defection bill states that MPs that get elected with a party ticket will lose their seat if their party dismisses them, or if they switch to another party.