Ousted former chairperson main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Moosa Manik Wednesday announced his intention to run in the 2018 presidential elections warning to seek court intervention if he is denied a chance to win the party ticket.
Manik who serves as the deputy parliament speaker fell out with former president Mohamed Nasheed after he publicly lay claim to the party's presidential ticket, following the jailing of the latter -- ruling him out of the 2018 elections.
Manik was later dismissed from the party for breaking a party whip line during a parliamentary vote. Though, the elections commission has since reversed the decision, the outspoken Manik has remained in the fringes of the party.
Speaking during a program on a private TV channel on Wednesday, Manik noted his tireless efforts to secure office for Nasheed in 2013, which according to Manik was squandered by the then MDP leader.
"Nasheed can never be president again. He doesn't have what it takes to beat president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom," Manik who recently has been highly critical of Nasheed added.
Manik has accused Nasheed of hijacking the party and had teamed up with fellow sidelined officials to announce an extensive reform program.
MDP had come down hard insisting that Manik was no longer a party member.
Responding to the claims, Manik stressed that there was no one had better chances than him to win the elections and he must be afforded the opportunity to contest for the party ticket.
"They are trying to deny me that chance. If it comes to that I will definitely fight it in the courts. I also have that right don't I?," Manik said.
