The usually outspoken ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) officials have remained tight-lipped over claims made by its deposed leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom that the party is now in 'legal limbo'.
The former president in a letter to the country's electoral watchdog on Tuesday said the terms of office of all of the party's elected officials had expired in January.
Gayoom who was unceremoniously ousted from the party after an ugly falling out with his half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom last year in his letter referred to the party's charter saying that the party had failed to hold a congress in the mandated two and half years time frame.
The elder Gayoom had also pointed out that the charter dictates that the party elects officials for a five year term, the terms of the current elected officials had expired on January 18 this year. Gayoom also questioned whether the party now in legal limbo over the violations of its charter could nominate a candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, referring to the party's earlier decision to skip a presidential primary and gift its ticket to president Yameen.
So far top officials of the party have refused to comment on Gayoom's claims. When asked of the issue during a PPM press conference held on Wednesday, chief government lawmaker Ahmed Hussain Manik refused to respond.
