Former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has responded to speculation that he has left the 'Bodu Badhalu' [Major Change] WhatsApp group after general members began urging former President Mohamed Nasheed to run for presidency. 

Fayyaz asserted that he remains committed to the 'Bodu Badhalu' campaign that he began with Nasheed. 

In a post on X, Fayyaz said that he had left a WhatsApp group named 'Bodu Badhalu' a few weeks ago, but claimed that it was not the official group for the movement. 

"I take this opportunity to tell supporters of Bodu Badhalu manifesto and MDP members who wish for this change that God willing, myself and President Mohamed Nasheed and our two teams will concluded our work after bringing this imperative major change in the Maldives," Fayyaz stated.  

Fayyaz and Nasheed, previously considered political rivals, began working together in the run up to Nasheed's bid for the MDP Chairperson post. At the time, Nasheed endorsed Fayyaz as the party's presidential candidate. 

A source close to the matter informed Mihaaru News that Fayyaz had left the 'Bodu Badhalu' WhatsApp group on a day when several general members had proposed that Nasheed must run in the party's presidential primaries. 

In a message sent just prior to leaving the group, Fayyaz reportedly stated that the group had lost its purpose, adding that everyone has the option of running in the party's presidential primaries and that anyone who has interest is free to do so. 

"So I will leave this group. Bodu Badhalu is an important initiative for this country. We will need the support of as many people as possible for this. I extend my gratitude to everyone," Fayyaz is said to have written in his final message to the group.

The 'Bodu Badhalu' campaign announced by Nasheed and Fayyaz on April 19 proposed changing the Maldives' governance system to a hybrid model wherein the country would have two separate posts of Head of Government and Head of State. The proposed system borrows heavily from a parliamentary governance system, with several features of a presidential system also included.