MDP Opts out of Contesting for Four Parliamentary Seats in Upcoming Elections

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has announced its decision to abstain from contesting four seats in the forthcoming Parliament election.

Deputy Chairman of the party, Ibrahim Waheed, disclosed today that the MDP will vie for 89 out of the 93 parliamentary seats. The constituencies where the MDP has opted not to contest include Vaavu Fulidhoo, Thaa Guraidhoo, Faafu Nilandhoo, and North Fuvahmulah.

Waheed stated that the MDP’s strategy for these constituencies involves lending support to independent candidates. However, the party has yet to formalise this decision.

Previously, the party had declared its reluctance to field candidates in the Nilandhoo and Eydhafushi constituencies, even during the primary phase. Notably, 51 candidates received party tickets without undergoing a primary selection process. Primaries were conducted in 40 constituencies on the 3rd of this month.

In a recent development, an independent candidate for the Eydhafushi constituency has joined the MDP and subsequently secured the party’s nomination.