Sinn Féin has suspended a senior party member over his opposition to local government reform proposals in the North which he claimed would lead to a "sectarian head count."
Francie Molloy, mayor of Dungannon District Council, Co Tyrone, is now facing disciplinary action over his comments.
Mr Molloy defied party strategists by speaking out against proposals to cut the number of councils in Northern Ireland from 26 to seven. He wanted 15.
Speaking to journalists last night, Mr Molloy said: "I'm not responding to the suspension because the suspension is based around an inquiry.
"I will be fighting that and the less I say the better."
Mr Molloy, one of Sinn Féin's most respected representatives and also a member of the Stormont Assembly for Mid Ulster, was informed of the action by the party's general secretary, Mitchel McLaughlin.
An internal investigation has been launched into public comments made by him on the review of public administration announced by Secretary of State Peter Hain.
Sinn Féin refused to comment on the case, but rivals immediately hit out at the decision.
Patsy McGlone, an SDLP representative in Mid Ulster , said: "The whole history of that organisation has been in the mould of a lack of freedom of speech. "Anyone who does ever speak out line from the party diktat does seem to be stepped on.
"Francie raised a valid issue, but it's for that movement to look after its own matters."