The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has decided to file a case at the Supreme Court regarding the Local Government Authority's (LGA) decision that Shujau Ali lost his position as President of Thinadhoo Council due to him leaving the political party he was a part of when he was elected as the President of the Vaavu Thinadhoo Council and then proceeding to join another party.

According to MDP Chairperson and former President Mohamed Nasheed, MDP's legal team is currently reviewing Shujau's seat case and they will file a case at the court within this week.

After Shujau ran for the President of Thinadhoo Council during the Local Council Election as part of The Democrats and subsequently won, he registered as a member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) after the council's term began on 19th May and after The Democrats were dissolved.

The Decentralization Act clearly states that if party switching occurs after being elected and during their term, they will lose their position.

While Shujau has lost his position due to party switching after his term began, he said that this is not a legal matter. He also said that in the next election, MDP will win the position of Thinadhoo Council President.

Regarding the matter, Shujau has told Mihaaru News previously that he joined MDP after the EC had told the management of The Democrats on 23rd April that their party had been dissolved.

Shujau stated that even though he was elected while he was a part of The Democrats, the EC had informed them that the party had been dissolved before Shujau was sworn in as the President of Thinadhoo Council. And so he said that he does not believe this to be party switching.

While it was decided that Shujau had lost his seat, he had been suspended since early June until LGA could come to a decision. The Vice President of the council was put in charge in Shujau's absence.

After the Local Council Election, some council members have also joined PNC before they were sworn in.