Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz has been appointed as the leader of Jumhooree Party (JP)’s Parliamentary Group (PG).

Riyaz was made leader through a vote held by JP’s PG members on Monday.

This comes after Qasim Ibrahim resigned as JP’s PG leader to fulfill his duties as the new speaker.

Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain is the deputy leader of the seven-member Parliamentary Group.

While 15 MPs won seats with JP tickets in the last parliament election, eight of them had defected to ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).