Mayor Athif: will go to any length for Kulhudhufushi

Mayor of Kulhudhufushi, Mohamed Athif defended his decision to rejoin the current administration stating that he is willing to go to any lengths necessary to serve the people's interests.

Athif, who initially ran for mayor as an Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) candidate, later joined the newly formed political party "The Democrats" due to disagreements within MDP. However, he recently made the decision to rejoin MDP, highlighting his commitment to the party and its goals.

He was accompanied by Kulhudhuffushi North MP Yasir Abdul Latheef and four members of the island council, who also left The Democrats and joined MDP alongside him.

Amid criticism and allegations following their sudden decision, Athif addressed the situation in a Facebook post. He expressed his decision to work alongside a "brave" team and reaffirmed their commitment to take a stand for the people, even in the face of baseless accusations.

"Even if we face ridicule from a few and have to bear baseless accusations, we are prepared to endure any challenges and overcome obstacles to fulfill the aspirations of the Kulhudhufushi people," Athif said in his Facebook post.

The mayor said they are determined to draw the government's attention to the slow pace of crucial projects in Kulhudhuffushi. He said that they are willing to go to any lengths necessary to achieve this goal. Athif expressed gratitude to all those who are involved in the initiative to improve the city.

"God willing, the people will see the results of these efforts alongside President Solih."

Despite these comments, when Athif resigned from MDP, he said in a Facebook post that the government had not been able to realize development projects as per the people's expectations even after being in office for five years. He also said that complaints and concerns had not received sufficient attention through written or verbal communication with the government.

Athif added that it not be in the best interest of the people for him to stay with MDP. He said that he joined The Democrats to explore alternative options and urged more people to follow him.

Despite the exit of MP Yasir and mayor Athif from the party, The Democrats stated that the impact on the party would be minimal. They said that the core membership from Kulhudhuffushi remained intact and committed to the party's values. The party also said that the members leaving the party had different priorities focused on their positions and personal interests rather than the broader party objectives.