Guraidhoo by-election: Opposition thanks Nasheed's faction for support

The opposition coalition, on Monday, has extended gratitude to Parliament Speaker, Maldivian Democratic Party’s (MDP) leader Mohamed Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction for their efforts to secure a win for Party of Maldives (PPM) in the K. Guraidhoo parliamentary by-election held last Saturday.

People’s National Congress’ (PNC) parliamentary group leader, Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar, on Monday, submitted a resolution calling on the government to control the prices of goods and services during Ramadan. Before presenting his motion, MP Adam Shareef, underscoring MDP’s win in Guraidhoo parliamentary by-election, congratulated the main ruling party.

He also thanked those who worked to ensure PPM’s win in the by-election including those who cast their vote for the party's candidate. MP Adam Shareef then noting Nasheed’s ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction’s efforts in this trajectory, thanked the faction.

“We thank ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ for their significant efforts to ensure PPM’s win in this election,” he said,

Prior to the by-election, MDP’s chairperson, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail had accused some members of MDP’s leadership of working alongside its opponents in the election. On this note, he detailed having received information of some senior MDP officials calling Guraidhoo constituents and instructing them to vote against MDP’s candidate Ibrahim Shaaz.

Fayyaz, following these accusations, threatened that respect can only be extended to a certain extent while efforts to trample the party will absolutely not be tolerated.

Despite the efforts by ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction – Guraidhoo by-election was won MDP’s candidate Shaaz with a landslide difference of more than 100 votes.

‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ faction is also working against MDP for the upcoming presidential elections. After endorsing Jumhoory Party’s (JP) presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim, the faction is presently engaged in discussions with JP to form a coalition agreement.

Although MDP has previously expressed no intention of taking action against Nasheed and his faction for working alongside other parties – Fayyaz’s threat has the possibility of changing the scenario.