Ali İhsan Merdanoğlu, AKP deputy for Diyarbakır of the 22nd and 23rd term, has resigned from his party. Merdanoğlu is reported to be in talks with Ali Babacan, former deputy Prime Minister who is preparing to announce a new party in Turkey.

Merdanoğlu’s resignation follows that of former chair of AKP Diyarbakır branch, Aydın Altaç, Diyarbakır MP Cuma İçten and AKP 23rd term Diyarbakır MP Abdurrahman Kurt.