MDP threatening to split up joint parliamentary group 'not surprising,' says JP leader

Ruling coalition partner, Jumhooree Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim has indicated that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had “split” the joint parliamentary group by choosing to compete in all 87 constituencies in the parliamentary elections.

In a tweet sent out on Friday night, as MDP’s primary elections continued, Qasim said that MDP threatening to split the joint parliamentary group “is not surprising.”

“The question is, is there one [joint parliamentary group] now?” asked the current parliament speaker and business tycoon, adding that there is not room to further divide the group.

He further questioned whether MDP choosing to compete for all seats in the parliamentary elections “is not going against [our] agreement.”

Qasim’s words are directed at MDP, who earlier on Friday released a statement saying that the bill proposing to bar former presidents from running for parliament- submitted by a JP representative- could create a rift in the joint parliamentary group.

While the lawmaker has refused to withdraw the bill, MDP’s leader former President Mohamed Nasheed won the party’s ticket for central Mahchangoalhi constituency at Friday’s primary election.

MDP had, during a national council meeting in December, decided to compete in all 87 constituencies.

While JP had initially decided to do the same, the party later announced it will not be competing in all constituencies.

The parliamentary elections are to be held on April 6.