Candidate in the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s Chairperson race, Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, has stated that over 20,000 aligned with the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) votes in MDP's internal elections.
Speaking to MDP members of ADh. atoll in his current visit to the atoll for campaigning, Fayyaz said the membership registry at the Elections Commission is not used in MDP's internal elections. He said twice the number of people in the EC's registry are eligible to vote in the party's internal election.
While over 94,000 people are eligible to vote in the party's upcoming Chairperson election, Fayyaz said this number includes many people from PPM. He said over 20,000 PPM members vote in the party's internal elections to elect its President, presidential candidate, and other such elections. As a result, PPM members get a chance to have a say in who is presented with MDP's tickets, he said. He added that they also have the power to fail the most popular candidates. He said members of other parties listed on MDP members must be identified and pledged to manage the party's registry better if he was elected the Chairperson.
Although EC's registry shows MDP has 54,782 members, over 94,000 people are eligible to vote in MDP's internal elections. Many new members sign up for the party ahead of internal elections and leave the party when the election is over.
