Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is to hold a special gathering- titled ‘Heyvalla’- in February.
The gathering will be held within the first week of February, the party announced at a press conference on Tuesday evening.
Speaking at the press conference, the party’s secretary general and MP for Milandhoo constituency, Dr. Abdulla Khaleel said that a special party gathering will be held on February 4, at the Carnival area.
He said that the purpose of the gathering is "to introduce the candidates who will represent PPM, in the upcoming Local Council Elections."
"The candidates will officially be given the party tickets for the council elections at the gathering," said Khaleel.
Furthermore, Khaleel said the party’s chief advisor, President Abdulla Yameen will join the gathering as well.
He said that over 500 candidates will represent PPM in this Local Council Elections, adding that the party will also back the candidates of its coalition partners, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), as well as independent candidates.
Khaleel said that he was unable to confirm the total number of candidates, including its coalition partners.
He further said that the party has so far submitted over 200 forms to the Elections Commission (EC), and that it has accepted “around 150 forms,” sending the rest back “to fix minor issues.”
The Local Council Elections was originally scheduled to be held on January 14, but was postponed by two months, after the Civil Court ordered EC to do so.
The Civil Court ruling came after President Yameen’s faction of PPM- who are to hold the gathering “Heyvalla”- filed a case, seeking to delay the council elections, citing that the party "was unable to prepare on time due to an internal conflict".
PPM has been divided in to two factions since June 2016, as President Yameen and half-brother, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom continue to be involved in public battle over party leadership. Maumoon is also the leader of Progressive Party of Maldives.
Civil Court ruling ordered that the party be taken over from Maumoon, and handed over to Yameen.
