MDP, Adhaalath hold talks regarding upcoming elections
The parliamentary election is scheduled for April 6
The meeting was held at the MDP main office on Sunday
Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and one of the coalition partners, Adhaalath Party (AP), held talks regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections on Sunday.
While MDP via twitter revealed that the meeting was regarding the elections, party's deputy chair Ali Niyaz told RaajjeMV that the details of the meeting will be shared with the media later.
In addition to the deputy chair, party leader former President Mohamed Nasheed, chairperson Hassan Latheef, deputy chair (administrative) Ahmed Abdulla, spokesperson Imthiyaz Fahmy, secretary general Anas Abdul Sattar and legal director Hisaan Hussain represented MDP at the meeting.
Adhaalath Party was represented by leader Imran Abdulla, gender minister Shidhatha Shareef and commissioner of customs Ahmed Nooman.
While AP is to contest in 13 constituencies in parliamentary elections, MDP has opted to run for all 87 constituencies; however, it will be competing in 86 constituencies as there were no applicants for one constituency, Nilandhoo.
While there are two other parties in the ruling coalition, Jumhooree Party (JP) and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM), MDP's decision seems to have caused a rift within the coalition.
On the day that it held its primaries for the parliamentary election with over 200 candidates, JP leader Qasim Ibrahim accused it of casting aside his party and announced that he will be working with other parties in April's election.
According to him, the coalition partners had previously agreed to distribute parliament seats among them. However, MDP denies that such an agreement ever existed.
JP has since announced that it will be competing in 36 constituencies while MRM is to run in 32.
