Nasheed resigns from MDP

Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, on Wednesday, has resigned from the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Nasheed announced his resignation via a tweet. His resignation letter, attached with the tweet, read that he does not believe staying a member of the party is the best course of action at the moment.

“As I do not believe staying in this party is the best course of action, I hereby inform my resignation from the party,” he said.

Nasheed, in a press conference at the parliament on Monday, expressing it was difficult to stay in MDP, said he was only staying to take members of MDP to the ‘The Democrats’, the new political party being formed by his supporters, when he leaves.

Nasheed was a lead figure in the formation of MDP. Till President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was awarded the presidential ticket of the party for 2018’s election, Nasheed remained the most popular member of MDP and exercised full power over the party. 

However, Nasheed lost control of the party after President Solih won the election.

Disagreements sparked between Nasheed and his supporters and pro-government MDP members subsequently, which exacerbated this year. A large number of Nasheed’s supporters, including lawmakers, defected from the party back in May following which they commenced efforts to form a new political party, ‘The Democrats’.

Mohamed Shifaz, who was serving as the deputy leader of MDP at that time, also tendered his resignation during the exodus. Therewith, at present, MDP does not have a leader or a deputy leader.