Parliament Speaker and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) 's presidential primary candidate, Mohamed Nasheed, has said the people would be put on the streets if President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wins MDP's presidential ticket.
Nasheed will go head to head with President Solih in MDP's presidential primary slated for January 28. Both candidates' campaigns are ongoing in full swing.
Nasheed's comments come while President Solih used a similar statement to describe Nasheed's 2008 government.
Speaking at a campaign rally held at N. Kendhikulhudhoo on Monday, Nasheed said if anyone tries gaining support for President Solih to win the primary, the people will be put on the streets. If President Solih became the presidential candidate, MDP would lose a significant amount of votes and would not win the election, he said.
"We may lose with only 10 percent of votes," said Nasheed.
Nasheed said he was facing the election to win and said he had no doubt that he would get the votes that would otherwise be lost if President Solih was the presidential candidate.
Nasheed likened the current coalition administration to that of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, who autocratically ruled the country for 30 years. He said some features of the former government had taken root within the current government and that it was not how it should be. Development cannot be ascertained by bootlicking, he said.
Nasheed went on to state that access to free higher education, free breakfast for school children, old age allowances as well as single mothers' allowances are benefits that people enjoy because of the democracy that the people themselves brought to the Maldives. He said the development that the people want could be achieved by expanding the democratic system.
"I am here to return this party to you. I have come because this party is slipping from us. The party was created by you; this party does not belong to anyone else," said Nasheed.
Nasheed will be traveling to three atolls - Noonu, Raa, and Baa -- in the current campaign tour, which commenced on Monday. He will conclude the tour and return to Mae' on January 11.
