28 January 2019•Update: 28 January 2019
By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu
ANKARA
A lawmaker from Turkey's opposition Good () Party resigned on Monday saying it was "impossible" to be associated with it anymore.
Tamer Akkal's resignation came after the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), known for its links to the PKK terror group, decided field any candidates in three cities for the March 31 local elections.
Akkal claimed that the call by HDP meant indirect support to the opposition alliance which Party is part of.
"It is impossible to take part in this organization any more," he added.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- recognized as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people.
After Akkal's resignation, Party holds 39 seats in the 600-seat Turkish parliament.
A total of 13 political parties will compete March 31 local elections.
Turkish local polls are held every five years to elect mayors of 1,398 municipalities across the country. Among them are 30 municipalities in 81 provinces and 921 district municipalities.
Voters will also elect municipal council members in cities other local leaders.
Campaigning will end on the evening of March 30, a day before the election.
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) agreed to support each other’s candidates in some districts and provinces, while the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Good () Party made a similar arrangement.
The last local elections, in March 2014, saw the AK Party clinch more than 45.5 percent of the vote.
Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections were held last June.
