Ilham resigns as Deputy Leader of DRP

Ilham Ahmed, Deputy Leader of main opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Member of Parliament for Gemanafushi Constituency, has resigned from his office as Deputy Leader of DRP.

Ilham sent a letter to Ahmed Tasmin Ali, Leader of DRP, to communicate his resignation. In the letter he gave his reasons for the decision to resign as party’s Deputy Leader. According to Ilham, he was disheartened by DRP’s failure to live up to its responsibilities as the major opposition in the country, and the lack of administrative efficiency in the party. He also noted that various accusations of corruption against some of the senior leaders of the party and the “various deals made by party Leader Tasmin with the government” had rendered Tasmin’s leadership hopeless.

Ilham also accused that DRP lacked internal democracy and effectiveness of management. He stated that the party was run with special considerations to the personal and family interests of some people. Another problem noted by Ilham was that there were no opportunities or room within the party for DRP members in Atolls, thus cutting off effective communication between party base in Malé and members in Atolls. Ilham concluded his letter by saying that he had no confidence that DRP could win the 2013 presidential election with Tasmin at its helm, and that most members of DRP did not believe Tasmin to be a suitable candidate for Presidency.

“Due to these reasons, I believe that working under your leadership as a Deputy Leader of the party would greatly hamper my efforts for the interests of the people. Remaining as a man bound and silenced under your policies will be against my agenda to work for the benefits of this country, and therefore I have decided to resign as the Deputy Leader of DRP”, Ilham’s letter read.

Meanwhile, Ali Salih, DRP’s Media Coordinator said yesterday that the Party had not yet received Ilham’s resignation letter. On the latter’s resignation, Salih said that Ilham’s resignation was not the result of Tasmin’s corruption, but Ilham’s failure to kick Tasmin out of the party leadership.