Maldives' electoral watchdog came under heavy criticism from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) over the decision not to re-extend the deadline for candidatures for the upcoming local council elections.
Elections Commission had originally set the deadline until October 27 but had extended it until December 1 due to requests by several political parties.
Secretary General Ahmed Ali had said the commission was presently reviewing the 937 candidatures.
Despite the civil court ruling delaying the polls by two months, Ali said no decision to re-extend the candidature deadline has been made.
Responding to the decision, PPM deputy leader Abdul Raheem Abdulla told reporters on Thursday said the party's candidates had been unable to submit any candidatures.
The civil court had last week postponed the council polls originally slated for January 14 by two months.
PPM filed the case seeking to delay the upcoming council polls by two months citing that the ongoing rift within the party had impeded its preparations for the elections slated for January 14.
Raheem said the party had been unable to hold a primary as member database and other key documents were missing after the court ordered handover.
The divisions within the ruling party stem from a dispute between the elder Gayoom and his half brother President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
The younger Gayoom has since been granted control of PPM by a court order.
The Fonadhoo lawmaker Raheem insisted that the elections commission must grant more time for interested candidates with the elections now postponed.
"Elections commission must give interested candidates more time. Otherwise there's no point in postponing the elections," Raheem stressed.
Raheem also hinted that the party could look to overturn the elections commission's decision through the civil court.
