PPM is the result of a frustration due to failure to challenge DRP Leadership: Tasmeen

Ahmed Tasmeen Ali, Leader of the major opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has said that the founder of his party and former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom had decided to leave the party with a number of his followers and form a new party due to their frustration because of failure to challenge the party leadership.

Speaking to the press today at DhiTV Office, Tasmeen said that the break-away Z Faction of the DRP, headed by Maumoon, decided to ditch the party and found the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) because their leaders had failed to secure senior positions of DRP during the last National Congress of the party.

Tasmin said that those who had left DRP with Maumoon to found PPM were persons who had acted in ways detrimental to the interests of DRP while still as members of the party. He assured that only a few members of DRP would leave their party in order to side with the new party of Maumoon and his Z Faction.

“We have been contacting party leadership at island level. The Z Faction has been contacting them and trying to win them over to their side. However, according to our information, their efforts have so far being in vain, and that is how it will remain in the future too”, said Tasmeen.

Tasmin also assured that DRP will remain as the strongest and biggest opposition side until the presidential election in 2013, and that DRP will challenge the ruling MDP during the election to take over the government. Tasmin stated that DRP is the only party in the nation that has the capacity to do that.

Senior leaders of DRP and also Leaders of Qawmee Party, who are in a coalition with DRP, participated in the press conference today.