Dhihdhoo Constituency Member of Parliament Abdul Latheef says that his decision to leave ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) was for the sake of his Constituents, adding that he will not reverse his decision, irrespective of the challenges thrown at him.

Speaking in a special interview to RaajjeTV, the Parliamentarian said that the best option for the nation, youth, his Constituents and PPM was to leave the Party. He said he will not reverse his decision, in spite of any challenges or offers he gets.

In a letter sent to the Party’s Chief Advisor, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Latheef said that he had won the Dhihdhoo seat as an independent member. He said he joined PPM to better serve the nation and his Constituents.

However, he said that especially in the past two or three years, with PPM at the helm of the Parliament, most of the decisions made in the Parliament were not for the betterment of the nation. Latheef said he had voted for these motions in a bid to follow the whipline issued by the Parliamentary Group and he had advocated for the Government on various platforms.

However, Latheef said the people’s voice was heard in the Local Council Elections, when they had voted against Government backed candidates and consequently, Government policies.

‘Therefore, I wish to tender my resignation from the Party, for the sake of the youth of Dhihdhoo and citizens and as I wish to work for the people and as I cannot vote in line with the whip of the Party,’ the letter said.

Latheef is one of the signatories to the no confidence motion on Parliament Speaker Abdullah Maseeh.