PNC forms alliance with PPM

Main opposition party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Peoples National Congress (PNC) have formed an alliance on Friday.

The coalition agreement was signed between both parties in front of the media. Party Founder and temporary leader of PNC Abdul Raheem Abdulla signed the documents on behalf of PNC while former president and leader of PPM, Abdulla Yameen Abdul inked his signature on behalf of PPM.

Speaking to the press following the signing, Abdul Raheeem said although the two parties are working under different names, they share the same ideologies and targets under the same platform. Both parties aim to work under the policies of President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, noted Abdul Raheem.

President Yameen added to Abdul Raheem's statement, saying the priority of both parties is to maintain the preferred policies that safeguard the nationality, religion and the people of the Maldives.

While the PPM-PNC duo has decided to contest in the parliamentary polls as a coalition, the coalition on Friday presented tickets to ten individuals. 63 constituencies will be contested by the opposing coalition, while the remaining candidacy spots will be awarded after a congress.

Former president, Yameen had moved to register a new political party, Peoples National Congress (PNC) as the dispute over the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) leadership was dragging on.

Speaking to local reporters late last month, Yameen had said the move to form a new party was with his "blessing."

"We can't head to an election with the party's future shrouded in uncertainty. Supreme Court is in recess. We don't when or how the verdict would come. So we can't take any chances," Yameen explained the reasons behind the bid to form a new party.