Elections Commission (EC) has sent a letter to the Political Parties, expressing concern over operations of Political Parties and informing the funds for the Parties have been delayed due to this.
The Political Parties Act states the Commission has to disburse all funds to the Parties within the first three months of every financial year. EC previously said disbursing funds was delayed due to the changes to the Political Parties Act and that the funds will be issued before the Local Council Elections.
The letter sent by EC, issued in response to the concerns raised by the Parties over the delay in receiving funds, said some Parties had failed to appoint leaders to their respective Parties. This, the letter said raised grave questions over this, noting this can lead to improper usage of finances. EC said Party members had expressed concern over this.
"The Commission notes the members had expressed concern over self election into positions in defiance of Party laws, not electing individuals to vacant positions, ballot fixing in internal elections and over Parties being functioned without Party Leaders,"
The letter said some leaders of Political Parties had nullified the powers of the Committees appointed for the Local Council Elections and banning Party Council meetings.
"It is difficult to issue funds to Political Parties as we had received multiple complaints over misuse of funds," the letter said.
EC had previously stated that MDP's President Mohamed Nasheed and Adhaalath Party President Imran Abdullah were no longer the leaders of their respective Parties. The amendment to the Political Parties Act states that any conviction will render that individual's position in the Party null. However, even after the amendment, the two Parties continue to accord the two as the leaders and had failed to elect replacements.
Infighting had broke out within PPM, with PPM President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had notified that Party Council sessions cannot be held until the Party council members who had walked out of the last session apologized for their "coup".
