Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has called for early local elections amid the resignations of several mayors.

“There is no need to wait for 17 months to hold local elections. Let’s not slaughter democracy. I openly challenge you [President Recep Tayyip Erdogan]. Let’s see who is trying to escape the polls,” Kilicdaroglu declared to the CHP parliamentary group on October 24, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Kilicdaroglu criticised Erdogan for forcing several mayors of his ruling AKP party to resign.

As part of his ongoing drive to shake up the AKP, Erdogan called on six mayors to step down, including Istanbul’s mayor Kadir Topbas, and Melih Gokcek who, until agreeing to quit, served as mayor of Ankara since 1994. Topbas stepped down last month as did the mayors of Duzce and Nigde. The mayor of Bursa announced his resignation this week.

Gokcek first appeared to resist what were Erdogan’s repeated calls for his resignation but he eventually gave in. He has said he will step down on October 28. Gokcek, known as a staunch Erdogan loyalist, joined the ranks of the AKP in 2003.

The mayor of Balikesir is expected to announce his resignation on October 30.

The inhabitants of Ankara and Istanbul, hitherto strongholds of the AKP, voted against the proposed constitutional amendments in the controversial April referendum which paved the way for the executive presidential system. Erdogan, who narrowly won the vote, has complained of a "fatigue" within the party’s ranks, and has called for a rejuvenation.

However, Erdogan has ruled out a snap poll. “Calling early elections is not on our agenda,” Erdogan told the AKP parliamentary group on October 24

Local elections are scheduled for March 2019 while the parliamentary and presidential polls are meant to take place in November 2019.