Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla (Muhamma) has joined Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
MDP has confirmed Muhamma submitted his membership form last Tuesday night.
He submitted the form in the presence of Leader of MDP, former President Mohamed Nasheed and Chairperson of MDP Hassan Latheef.
Former comedian and actor, Muhamma was elected to the Parliament as a candidate from Jumhoory Party (JP). And left JP for the former ruling political party Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) shortly after the election.
Muhamma said at the time he was happy with former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration and wanted to work closely with the administration.
During his time at PPM, Muhamma violated a three-line whip and signed a no-confidence petition against Mohamed Maseeh Abdulla – the Speaker of Parliament at the time. He was dismissed from the party, and was determined to have forfeited his parliamentary seat under the Anti-Defection Act.
He, along with 11 other parliamentarians determined to have forfeited their parliamentary seats under similar circumstances, were later reinstated to the Parliament by the Supreme Court.
The upcoming parliamentary elections has created a spike in number of parliamentarians changing parties. Isdhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed Ibrahim and Biledhdhoo MP Ahmed Mubeen recently joined JP – which is part of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s coalition government.