The Local Government Authority (LGA) has instructed Shujau Ali, who was elected as the President of V. Thinadhoo Council as a candidate of The Democrats, to stay home until a decision is made regarding his seat following his switch to the MDP.
The letter sent to Shujau yesterday, signed by LGA CEO Mohamed Nimal, states that Section 116 (lh) of the Decentralization of Administrative Divisions Act stipulates that if a member contests and wins a council seat on a specific political party's ticket and then registers with the Elections Commission as a member of a party other than the one they were elected under during that term, they will lose their council membership.
The LGA stated that after Shujau was elected to the Thinadhoo Council presidency representing The Democrats in the local council election, the EC notified that he was registered as an MDP member on May 19, following the commencement of the term.
Therefore, until the LGA board makes a specific decision, Shujau has been instructed to step aside from official duties and hand over the administration of the council to the Vice President.
"Therefore, until this Authority's board reaches a decision and notifies a specific course of action, you are requested to instruct your Council President Shujau Ali to temporarily step aside from official responsibilities and to refrain from attending the council office," the letter reads.
Speaking to "Mihaaru" regarding the matter, Shujau said he joined the MDP because the Elections Commission had informed the party's leadership on April 23 that the party had been dissolved.
Shujau said that although he was elected through The Democrats, the EC informed that the party was dissolved prior to his taking the oath of office. Therefore, he stated that he does not believe it can be interpreted as leaving one party to join another.
"I joined the MDP on May 19. The Elections sent the letter on April 23 of this year stating that the party was dissolved. I do not accept this interpretation being made by the LGA or the Elections Commission," said Shujau, who previously served as the President of the V. Atoll Council.
"This wasn't changing from one political party to another. Since the party I was elected from dissolved, I joined a new political party. Furthermore, joining a political party is not prohibited by law. Since the party was dissolved before I took my oath, I would be a independent member if they interpret it that way."
If the LGA determines that Shujau has lost his seat over this matter, he will become the first council member to lose a seat under these circumstances.
The letter sent by the EC to the leadership of The Democrats states that as the party had not maintained the 3,000 members required under the Political Parties Act, the three-month period granted to fulfill the legally mandated 3,000 members had expired on April 11. The commission noted that when the deadline expired, the number of members in the party stood at 2,716, and therefore, since the party did not reach 3,000 members, the Commission decided to dissolve The Democrats.
