MDP hoists flag in all islands in preparation for presidential campaign

Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), on Friday, hosted the party’s flag at all residential islands across the Maldives in preparation for the party’s presidential campaign.

The flag hoisting event was simultaneously held at all islands at 4:00pm on Friday evening. MDP members residing in each island attended the event.

The party’s flag hoisted at each island measures 15 feet by 10 feet.

Speaking to Sun regarding the event, MDP’s Deputy Chairperson Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey) said the event showcased the unity within the party still. He added that MDP was the strongest political party in the Maldives presently.

Iburey detailed that campaign poster hanging activities alongside seeking information for the manifesto are also underway in the islands.

He said the activities, which will continue till tomorrow, are aimed at igniting the campaign spirit within the party before the presidential campaign officially kicks off next month.

Over 400 representatives from the party traveled to different regions on Thursday to partake in these activities.

The activities come at a time the rift with MDP had taken a turn for the worse with the resignation of senior officials supporting MDP’s leader, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed. They have also initiated efforts to form a new political party, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’.

Nevertheless, MDP’s Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail, on Thursday, said the resignation of the top officials will not majorly impact the party’s total membership while also expressing confidence to win the election in one round.

MDP’s presidential candidate is President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who won the party’s presidential primary against the party’s leader Nasheed in a landslide victory. Nasheed, following his loss, initiated a separate political movement within the party, ‘Fikuregge Dhirun’ which is now headed towards the road of a separate political party.