The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has awarded party tickets to 36 candidates, including several sitting MPs, to contest in the upcoming parliamentary elections. MDP has confirmed that these candidates were the sole contenders for their constituencies in the party’s parliamentary primaries.
Notable figures securing tickets include Parliament Speaker Mohamed Aslam and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem. Jeehan Mahmood, representing Hinnavaru Constituency, is the sole female MP to confirm her ticket.
Former State Minister for Housing Akram Kamaaludeen also secured the party’s nomination. He aims to fill the vacancy left by outgoing MP and former President Mohamed Nasheed, who will not seek re-election for the Central Machangolhi seat.
MDP has announced its intention to contest all constituencies in the forthcoming 20th Parliament. The deadline for registration to participate in the party primaries was 25 December, with the primaries scheduled for 26 and 27 January.
The party, which achieved a supermajority in the current 19th Parliament, recently lost 12 parliament members to the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). Observers have criticised this defection, attributing it to dissatisfaction among sitting MPs over the necessity to compete in party primaries for seat retention.
Despite these defections, MDP maintains a majority with 43 seats in the 87-member parliament.