Jumhooree Party (JP) leader, Qasim Ibrahim has responded to rumors that the main-ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s President, Mohamed Nasheed, would contest alongside Qasim in the upcoming presidential election as his running mate.
Last weekend, Nasheed attended the opening and closing ceremonies of the JP Congress, where Qasim sang his praises for Nasheed at length. After a close associate of Nasheed, MP Hassan Latheef, floated the idea of an MDP running mate behind a presidential candidate from another party, the public has been left wondering if Nasheed would contest as Qasim's running mate.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the President's Office on Wednesday, Qasim said he was not aware that Nasheed had proposed to be his running mate in the September election. He said there would be different talk and rumors by different people at this time.
Regarding the meeting with President Solih, Qasim said the meeting went ahead and that the current ruling coalition was discussed. He declined to provide any further information on the meeting despite several questions being asked by reporters. He also refused to answer any election-related questions.
When asked if the formation of a coalition for the upcoming election was discussed, Qasim said he was also a party leader and would proceed as decided by the party.
"We talked about whether we would have a coalition or not during a political conversation," he said.
JP last weekend passed a resolution at its congress to either field its own candidate or form a coalition led by the party for the presidential election. Qasim said although the resolution was passed, he has not yet decided to contest the election separately. When asked if he was interested in contesting the election, Qasim did not respond to the question.
Meanwhile, Nasheed has said he would not back President Solih in the upcoming election following his defeat against the President in the MDP's Presidential Primary. President Solih has invited current coalition partners to form an alliance with him, and Adhaalath Party has already decided to join forces with MDP. The two remaining coalition partners, JP and MRM, are yet to make a decision. Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), which is not a part of the current coalition, has also agreed to form a coalition with President Solih.
