Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Sunday announced its decision to hold the party primaries in the required constituencies for the upcoming local council elections on January 27.
PPM secretary general Dr Abdulla Khaleel said the party would hold primaries in 64 constituencies on the scheduled date.
Khaleel revealed that the party had received over 500 valid candidatures seeking the ruling party ticket.
The party would offer over 50 seats for coalition partners Maldives Democratic Alliance (MDA) and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).
PPM Primaries
- 10 for city councils
- 16 for Atoll councils
- 38 for island councils
PPM members registered before December 15 last year would be eligible to vote in the elections.
Elections commission had announced its decision to hold the court delayed local council elections on April 8.
The civil court had postponed the council polls originally slated for January 14 by two months.
PPM had 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.
Religiously conservative Adhaalath Party meanwhile has decided to boycott the elections over grievances with the Elections Commission.
Adhaalath which had previously intended to contest the polls through a coalition with main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) accused the elections commission of deliberately trying to sway the polls to favour a particular party.
Elections Commission however had said it was 'unaware' of Adhaalath's decision.
