Voting for the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s presidential primary has commenced.
The highly anticipated election, which began a 9:00 am today, is the most competitive internal election in the party's history.
The MDP opened the opportunity for those interested in contesting the primary to apply for candidacy on December 18 last year. When the deadline expired, the President of the Maldives and MDP's senior leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, and MDP's President and Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed, were the only candidates who applied to contest the election.
Both candidates ran strong campaigns for the election, promising betterment for the party and the country. Both are equally confident of winning the election.
Saturday's primary is the first time in the Maldives' history that a President is contesting a primary seeking re-election.
According to the Election Commission, the MDP has 58,175 members. However, 57,255 people are eligible to vote in the primary. A total of 283 boxes will be placed in all inhabited islands for the primary.
Voting will continue from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm today. If the election is conducted as planned, the winner of the MDP presidential ticket for September's presidential election will be confirmed before 9:00 pm.
The MDP last held a competitive primary on April 23, 2008.
