President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom Wednesday slammed former president Mohamed Nasheed insisting that the archipelago's opposition revolves around one individual.
Speaking during the ceremony held to mark the signing of over 700 new members from the southernmost Atoll Addu City to the ruling party, president stressed that the political parties belong to the people supporting a particular political ideology.
Even if the opposition revolves around one individual, the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) belongs to each and every party member, president insisted.
President urged main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters to get behind the spirit of supporting a new leader.
"What we see today is everyone in the opposition bowing down to one individual. But we can't see any hope for them. With the present laws, I simply cannot see any reason how it [bow down] can be done," president Yameen said.
President Yameen also insisted that every political party must strive to groom future leaders who would sincerely serve the people.
The president's comments comes days after Nasheed said MDP would not nominate a candidate for the next presidential elections, if he is not allowed to contest.
Nasheed was jailed on terror charges after he was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison over the arbitrary detention of a sitting judge while he was president.
Nasheed now lives in self imposed exile in the UK after he was allowed to leave to Britain on medical leave in an internationally brokered deal in January last year.
Nasheed who is in neighbouring Sri Lanka during an interview told opposition Raajje TV that he had met with the party's national council and "made decisions" over the elections slated for 2018.
Nasheed had arrived in Sri Lanka to meet top party officials in a bid to "reunite" the divided MDP, party sources had said.
Nasheed revealed that MDP would hold a presidential primary soon adding that he would be looking to win the party ticket.
"Once we hold the primary we would know the choice of our members. I'm thinking of contesting the primary. I hope that I'll win. We would only know if the elections commission would reject the candidate who wins that primary in August [2018]," he explained.
According to Nasheed the party had already decided on a course of action if the elections commission rejects the MDP candidate.
One option, Nasheed said was for MDP to boycott the elections, despite it being an "alien" concept for the opposition party.
"The second option would be for MDP support another candidate, which would be entirely up to the party. But one thing is clear, MDP wants to end president Yameen's presidency," he added.
Nasheed also admitted that the party faces deep divisions if he stepped aside adding that a "government friendly" candidate could also emerge.
