The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) has announced that the party's leader, Ahmed Siyam, will contest the upcoming presidential election.
A senior MDA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AVAS that the party would be conducting special activities in different parts of the country to increase the number of party members. He said the MDA aims to increase its membership to 10,000 before Siyam contests the presidential election.
According to the Election Commission's website, the MDA currently has 6,769 members.
The MDA official said Siyam is the most influential personality in the tourism sector of the Maldives today. While Siyam has over 20 years of experience in politics, he will be contesting the presidential election with the confidence that he can bring about positive changes in the country based on his experience, the official said.
"Siyam wants to eradicate corruption from the country. He wants to bring equality and justice to the people. He wants to bring prosperity to the people. He is contesting the election because he is confident he can achieve this with his experience.
MDA will not be contesting the presidential election in a coalition with another party. The source said the party would officially announce Siyam as its presidential candidate at an ordinary congress to be held soon.
