A total of 100 individuals have submitted forms to contest in the primaries for next year’s parliamentary elections, says Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

MDP’s Elections Committee’s chair, Mohamed Ibrahim Manik told RaajjeMV that 100 individuals had submitted forms to contest in the party’s primary election by Thursday afternoon.

While interested individuals are to submit applications before December 19, only party members are eligible; they should have applied for party membership before December 7.

Noting that the party’s primary election will be held on January 18, Manik said that that everything is going “smoothly and as per arranged”.

While those interested in contesting in the party’s primaries for the parliamentary election are to submit 200 membership forms each, Manik said that they have received a total of 33,000 forms.

MDP is currently verifying these forms, and will publicize its full voters’ list on January 13, 2019.

With the new members, Manik said that over 85,000 individuals will be eligible to vote in its internal election.

The parliamentary election is to be held in March next year.