Candidacy opens for Majlis elections

The Elections Commission (EC) has opened candidacy for this year’s parliamentary elections.

In a post on X on Tuesday morning, EC’s vice chairman Ismail Habeeb announced that candidacy for the parliamentary elections will be open until February 14.

According to Habeeb, applications will be issued and collected from the Rannabandeyri Hall of Dharubaaruge from 09:00 am to 02:00 pm, except for Fridays, on which the counters will be open from 02:00 pm to 04:00 pm.

The commission said it will not accept cash payments, and that the candidacy fee must be paid with a cash card via POS machine.

ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އިންތިޚާބު 2024 އަށް ކުރިމަތިލާ މީހުންނަށް، އިލެކްޝަންސް ކޮމިޝަނުން، މިއަދު އެ ފުރުސަތު ހުޅުވާލައި، އެކަން ޢާންމުކޮށް އިޢުލާން ކޮށްފި.
2024 ޖެނުއަރީ 30 ވަނަ ދުވަހުން ފެށިގެން، ފެބުރުއަރީ މަހުގެ 14 ވަނަ ދުވަހާ ހަމަޔަށް، އިންތިހާބަށް ކުރިމަތިލުމުގެ ފުރުސަތު… pic.twitter.com/AZgVLsHkdh

— Ismail Habeeb (@IsmailHabeeb) January 30, 2024

The parliamentary elections is scheduled for March 17 – which falls within the first week of Ramadan.

But the main opposition MDP submitted a bill last week to ban elections in Ramadan.

The EC noted that the election date may therefore be subject to change.

The main ruling PPM-PNC held its primaries for the parliamentary elections last weekend, while MDP and Democrats are scheduled to hold theirs on Saturday.