Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM) has denied supporting Jumhooree Party (JP)’s candidate for Gan constituency.

Earlier on Thursday, at Adam Asif’s campaign rally, JP leader Qasim Ibrahim had announced that MRM is “supporting” him for the parliamentary elections.

Both JP and MRM are in ruling coalition, along with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Adhaalath Party; MRM is yet to be officially registered as a political party but is in the works to do so.

Shortly after, MRM’s secretary general Abdul Aleem denied this to the media, saying that “this is false,” and that the movement has not made any such decision.

He added that Qasim “must have been misinformed,” on the matter.

However, he noted that although Maumoon supports the 12 members who were unconstitutionally unseated this parliamentary term by former president Yameen, of whom some are now JP members, Maumoon has not declared support for other candidates from JP.

Further noting that MRM and former President Maumoon’s candidates are running independently, Aleem said that they will “always” work to uphold the coalition government.

Five candidates are contesting for Gan constituency; JP’s Asif, MDP’s Mohamed Wisam and independent candidates Abdulla Didi, Farhaad Dawood and Nahula Ali.