The opposing PPM-PNC coalition's Senate has rejected a boycott of the upcoming presidential election.
Former President Abdulla Yameen, leader of PPM-PNC and currently serving a prison sentence, instructed party members to boycott the election after the Supreme Court ruled his ineligibility due to his conviction.
During a Senate meeting on Sunday, a vote was held to decide on following Yameen's proposal. The initial vote failed due to disagreements among members, leading to an adjournment.
Eventually, when the vote took place, out of the 126 attending Senate members, 45 voted to boycott the election as proposed by President Yameen. In contrast, 67 members voted against the boycott.
PPM's Secretary General, Mohamed Tholal, said the Senate decided to advise President Yameen against boycotting the election as they believe contesting the election could lead to Yameen's release from imprisonment.
"The Senate unanimously agrees to do whatever it takes to free the President," Tholal said.
Meanwhile, in preparation for a potential scenario where Yameen is barred from contesting the presidential election, PNC proactively elected Male City Mayor Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, an alternate presidential candidate under the PNC banner. However, the PPM contends asserts a PNC candidate is a "Plan C," sparking differences between the two allied parties.
According to senior PPM members, their preferred Plan A is Yameen, while an alternative candidate from PPM is Plan B. Producing a PNC candidate was defined as Plan C. The PPM also issued a statement on Saturday, saying that some media portraying Dr. Muizzu as the opposition coalition's Plan B was inaccurate.
