Thinadhoo Council President removed from duties over alleged party floor-crossing
The Local Government Authority (LGA) has launched an investigation into V. Thinadhoo Council President Shujau Ali for switching political parties, resulting in his suspension from official duties until the inquiry is concluded. Under the Decentralization Act, elected officials lose their seats if they defect from the party they represented during the election; if penalized, Shujau would become the first councilor to lose his seat under this provision. In his absence, Vice President Samir Ahmed has been appointed to oversee the council's operations.
Shujau Ali, the President of the V. Thinadhoo Island Council, has officially signed with the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). His move follows a successful election bid where he initially contested and won his seat on The Democrats' ticket. | Social Media
The Local Government Authority (LGA) has decided to temporarily suspend Shujau Ali, the President of the V. Thinadhoo Island Council, from his official duties.
The decision was made following allegations that Shujau switched political parties after the commencement of the current council term.
In a letter addressed to the Vice President of the Thinadhoo Council, Samir Ahmed, the Local Government Authority (LGA) instructed that Shujau be temporarily relieved of his official duties and barred from entering the council's administrative offices. The letter further stated that during this period, the responsibilities of the Council President have been officially transferred to Vice President Samir.
According to the Local Government Authority (LGA), Shujau, who secured his seat on The Democrats' ticket, was officially registered as a member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) with the Elections Commission on the 9th of last month. This coincided with the day the newly elected members for the current local council term were sworn into office. Prior to his move to the MDP, Shujau was a member of The Democrats, a party that has since been dissolved by the Elections Commission. Shujau also previously served as the President of the Vaavu Atoll Council during the preceding term.
According to the Decentralization Act, any member elected on a political party ticket will lose their seat if they switch parties during their current term.
If Shujau is unseated in this case, he will become the first councilor to lose his position due to switching political parties. This is expected to be the first time this specific provision of the Decentralization Act is enforced.
While a member who recently joined the MDP faces the risk of losing their seat due to floor-crossing, several councilors have also defected to the PNC since being elected. However, the exact dates these individuals were officially registered in the Elections Commission's records remain unclear.
