Speaker to run for Male

Speaker of the Parliament Abdulla Shahid has announced that he will run for a seat in Male’ for the parliamentary election set for 22 March next year.

Speaking to Sun today, Abdulla Shahid said his decision to compete for Henveyru-north follows numerous requests from the young people from the constituency. He also said that Henveyru-north area being his home area and the close relationship he has with the area's people also influenced his decision.

“I decided to run for Henveyru-north over requests from a large number of people. Especially young people from the constituency are asking me to stand for the area. So I decided to compete for under a MDP ticket,” Speaker Abdulla Shahid said.

Shahid said he will continue to maintain a close relationship with his current constituency Vaavu Keyodhoo, and said he has also received requests from the people of Keyodhoo to stand for re-election.

Abdulla Shahid first sat in parliament on a presidential seat in 1995 during President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration. He was elected as the Vaavu Atoll MP and later as the Vaavu Keyodhoo MP in 2009, the first parliamentary election held under the 2008 constitution that re-established the constituencies. Abdulla Shahid is the MP to be elected with the least amount of votes in the 2009 election.