Adhaalath Party to compete for 5 seats

Religiously conservative Adhaalath Party has announced 5 constituencies for which the party will field candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election, without the consent of the coalition.

Adhaalath Party announced at a press conference today that member Anara Naeem will stand for Makunudhoo, Aishath Haleel for Vaikaradhoo, Ahmed Zahir for Komandoo, party’s former legal advisor Asadulla Shaafee for Kaashidhoo, Hisham Mohamed for Addu City Meedhoo and for Nolhivaram constituency.

The announcement comes before a response from Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) over granting constituencies for Adhaalath to field candidates through the ruling coalition. Adhaalath Party approached PPM after falling out of talks with Jumhoory Party (JP), with dissatisfaction over the number of constituencies allowed by JP.

Adhaalath Party Spokesperson Ali Zahir said the decision has been communicated with PPM.

“Adhaalath Party has been trying, from the beginning, to field candidates without contradictions. We are still waiting for a response from PPM,” Ali Zahir said.

Zahir said that Adhaalath Party believes their decision to field candidates against coalition candidates will not harm the coalition's chances of winning a majority and that a win by Adhaalath will also be a win for the coalition.