Multiple members, Council President from Laamu join PPM

Several members from Laamu atoll including the atoll's council president Ismail Ali have signed to Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

The new members to PPM on Monday evening, September 25, publicly supported PPM and People's National Congress (PNC) coalition's candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Ismail, who was elected as the atoll council's president through Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) ticket had exited the ruling party earlier amid the party's split which led to the formation of The Democrats.

Since leaving MDP, Ismail remained without signing on to another party until Monday.

After signing with PPM, Ismail publicly endorsed Dr. Muizzu and joined his campaign trail. The atoll council president expressed confidence that the opposition candidate would bring the necessary development to Laamu atoll.

While the atoll council's president showed formal support to Dr. Muizzu, the opposition coalition candidate had taken majority votes from Laamu atoll during the first round of the presidential election.

Other members who recently joined PPM included Ali Nasheed, who held a senior position at Gan Regional Hospital. Prior to signing, Nasheed had resigned from his designation at the hospital.

In addition to them, activists from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Jumhooree Party (JP) in the atoll, who have been affiliated with the ruling party since its inception, switched allegiance to PPM during Monday's ceremony.

The members handed their membership forms to Dr. Muizzu during the ceremony.

Earlier, during Dr. Muizzu's campaign visit to Laamu atoll Gan ahead of the first round of the elections, several members of the atoll's youth including Gan Council Deputy President Abdulla Asif, joined PPM as well.

Previously, MDP held a substantial majority in Laamu atoll, particularly in Gan. However, more recently, PPM has gained the majority in the atoll.

While PPM's popularity in the atoll has been growing, Laamu atoll Fonadhoo's MP Moosa Siraj, who was elected to the seat through MDP ticket were among the prominent new members to PPM on Moday evening.

Siraj had endorsed Dr. Muizzu for the first round of the elections as well.