Azima gives up PPM ticket, pulls out of parliamentary race

Former Legal Affairs Minister of the President's Office, Azima Shakoor has withdrawn her decision to contest in the upcoming parliamentary election.

She has given up the ticket she was awarded from her party, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Azima Shakoor was among the individuals to whom leader of PPM former president Yameen Abdul Gayyoom had awarded a parliamentary ticket to without going through a primary last December. She was to contest for N. Holhudhoo constituency.

However, in the list of contestants representing the new alliance between Peoples National Congress (PNC) and PPM that was publicized on Friday, Ahmed Hamdhaan Nasir was named as the candidate for Holhudhoo constituency instead of Azima.

It has been confirmed by AVAS that Azima had decided to pulled out from the race due to her current medical condition.

PNC and PPM last night announced that they are making a coalition between the two parties to contest the parliamentary election. Both parties are backed by President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom. A total of 63 contestants have been awarded tickets from both parties to contest in the parliamentary election.