Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim has withdrawn support for MP Faisal as the Joint Opposition’s running mate.
JP is set to take a secret vote at 9pm on Friday to elect the running mate that would represent the opposition coalition parties.
In a tweet on Friday, the self-exiled opposition leader said that he has withdrawn his support of MP Faisal and so the JP council members are free to vote for who ever they think is the most eligible candidate.
JP ge council membarunah vedhun. Runningmate kamah MP Faisal Naseemah alhugandu kuri thaeedhu anburaa genesfeemeve. Veemaa kurimathi lavvaafaivaa beyfulhunge terein JPge council membarunnah fenivadaigannavaa gothah rayyithunge vindhaa ehgothah vote levvumah alhugandu edhemeve.
— Qasim Ibrahim (@qasimibrahim) July 13, 2018
While there had been rumors that Qasim supported Faisal, he had not officially made an announcement on the matter earlier.
The four JP members vying for the position of running mate are Kaashidhoo MP Faisal Naseem, JP deputy leader Dr. Hussain Rasheed, former minister at the President’s Office Abdulla Ameen, and Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain.
41 JP council members will be joining in Friday night’s vote, but not party leader Qasim, who is in exile abroad.
