Coalition partner Jumhooree Party (JP) is teaming up with opposing progressive coalition to face the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The announcement came at a press conference held on Thursday night by the opposing Progressive coalition. The Progressive coalition is made up of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Peoples' National Congress (PNC), both being parties backed by ormer president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.
At the press conference, Fonadhoo MP and founder of PNC Abdul Raheem Abdulla announced the names of the candidates representing the Progressive coalition in the upcoming elections, along with the names of the JP candidates. Abdul Raheem refuted claims that the opposition coalition is backing candidates for certain constituencies only.
Through the new alliance, Jumhooree Party will be contesting for 38 seats while 32 seats will be contested by PPM. 4 seats have been left for MDA while 13 seats have been allocated for other partners.
The Progressive coalition further revealed that the decision comes after discussion with JP. AVAS has confirmed from the Secretary General of JP Hussain Rasheed that the party is indeed teaming up with the progressive coalition for the elections slated for April.
While this is the case, JP leader Gasim Ibrahim had stressed on the importance of attaining parliament majority for the ruling coalition the same night at the campaign launch of one of their candidates.
According to a council member of JP, the decision to partner with the progressive coalition comes without the knowledge of the party council members.
