Former Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon and Thimarafushi MP Abdulla Riyaz will be contesting for Maldives National Party (MNP)'s Vice Presidency in its upcoming internal election.
MNP will be holding its inaugural congress on Friday, during which the party's interim executive council will be elected. The interim executive council comprises of the party's president, six vice presidents, women's wing leader, youth wing leader, and 21 council members. One Vice President slot and seven council seats have been designated for women.
MP Riyaz is vying for South Central Presidency slot while Dunya has set her sights on the Deputy President slot designated for women. Both candidates have appealed to party members for their support.
The first session of MNP's inaugural congress will be held from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Friday, while the second session will begin at 9:00 pm. The party's name, logo, flag, color as well as the party's charters will be finalized at the congress. Members will also be appointed to the party's interim executive council.
The Elections Commission gave permission to form MNP as a political party in July this year. MNP submitted over 5,000 membership registration forms and requested to register the party on September 15. On September 28, EC gave the greenlight to hold the party's inaugural congress after verifying that majority of the membership forms were valid. If the the inaugural congress is carried out according to the regulations, the party will be formally registered as a political party.
