Nasheed, Fayyaz Travel to India for Great Oceans Dialogue

Former President and Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed and former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail have travelled to New Delhi, India, to participate in the Great Oceans Dialogue, “SAGARMANTHAN”, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation.

Nasheed is scheduled to speak at the forum on “Ocean Nations: Reimagining Blue Prosperity”, while Fayyaz, who previously served as Economic Minister, is due to participate in a panel discussion titled “Blue Justice: Reimagining Equity in Ocean Futures”, according to the MDP.

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MDP Chairperson President @MohamedNasheed will speak on Ocean Nations: Reimagining Blue Prosperity, at the Great Oceans Dialogue, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on 9th October 2026 12:30pm IST. https://t.co/ApDKCJq9wt— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) October 7, 2026

Nasheed travelled to India following a visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he participated in the “Bay of Bengal Conversation 2026”.

The visit comes shortly after the MDP held its congress last week, at which the party endorsed its “Bodu Badhalu” (Major Change) policy paper.

Former MDP Chairperson @faya_i will speak on the panel ‘Blue Justice: Reimagining Equity in Ocean Futures’ at the Great Oceans Dialogue, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi on 8th October 2026 at 3:30pm IST. https://t.co/VjjSs1AinS— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) October 7, 2026

The policy paper proposes significant changes to the Maldives’ system of governance, including restructuring the executive branch and separating the positions of Head of State and Head of Government.

Under the proposed system, the Head of Government would be elected directly by voters, while the Head of State would be elected through a combined vote of Parliament and local councils.

Fayyaz is also seeking the MDP’s presidential ticket for the 2028 presidential election and has Nasheed’s backing in the party’s primary contest.

The trip to India marks the first overseas engagement for both politicians following the MDP congress, which set out the party’s proposed changes to the country’s political and governance system.