MDP Parliamentarian Shifaq signs for PPM

Shifaq “Histo” Mufeed, Member of Parliament for Central Fuvammulah Constituency, and one of the most active parliamentarians of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has ditched party to join the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM).

Shifaq signed for PPM in a meeting in Fuvammulah tonight. He addressed the meeting, which is still ongoing, moments ago.

Former President, and founder of PPM, Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom also participates in the meeting tonight. Shifaq went to Fuvammulah together with Maumoon and senior leaders of the Party today.

In his address at the PPM meeting, Shifaq said that he “could not believe the warm welcome” he received from PPM. He also thanked leaders and members of the party for taking him in with such love and enthusiasm. He also said that he would not go after money, and that his priority would always be the interests of Fuvammulah and the whole country.

Shifaq participated in two of MDP’s meetings after MDP lost power on the 7th of February this year, when MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed resigned as President. However, in the following months, Shifaq had repeatedly criticized MDP. He accused MDP leadership of being “in a coma”, and said that “an early Presidential election as demanded by MDP leadership could only be held after amending the Constitution”.

Shifaq also attended the Parliament meeting which approved current President Dr. Waheed’s Cabinet appointments, and voted for the appointments, while MDP had issued a three-line-whip, asking all MDP parliamentarians to boycott the meeting.

Following the Parliament meeting which approved the Cabinet, MDP had said that it would “investigate the case of Shifaq and take action against him”.

Shifaq happens to be the first MDP parliamentarian who won a seat with an MDP ticket to ditch the Party.