Main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party and coalition partner Adaalath Party sat down on Sunday to discuss the parliamentary seat allocation.
No information regarding the discussion has been revealed by either party.
Home Minister and leader of Adaalath Party, Sheikh Imran Abdulla, accompanied by Gender Minister Shidhatha Shareef and Commissioner of Custom Services Ahmed Nu'uman participated in the discussion on behalf of the religiously conservative party. MDP was represented by it's leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed, Chairperson Hassan Latheef, Deputy leader Mohamed Shifaz and parliamentary candidate for Thulhaadhoo constituency, Hisaan Hussain.
While discussions were held between the two parties, coalition ally, Jumhooree Party has decided to contest for 36 constituencies in the parliamentary elections slated for April. MDP will be contesting for 86 constituencies while Adaalath has announced they will be fielding candidates for 13 constituencies.
The coalition parties had previously agreed to contest both the parliamentary election and the local council elections through the coalition in order to ensure maximum number of seats.
Main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and JP remained at loggerheads over contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections through the same coalition which saw them win the presidential elections in November last year.
In an agreement signed between the coalition partners ahead of the presidential election last years, it was decided that MDP will contest for 35 seats while Jumhooree Party, Maumoon Reform Movement and Adaalath Party will contest for 22, 17 and 13 seats respectively.
However, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) decided at its National Council to contest for all 87 constituencies in the parliamentary election, despite the existing coalition agreement to divide up the seats among themselves, triggering dispute among the coalition.
The four leaders of the coalition have sat down several times with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in attempt to resolve the dispute. However, an agreement has not been reached thus far.
