Jumhooree Party’s (JP) council on Wednesday authorised the Speaker of Parliament and JP's leader, Qasim Ibrahim, to grant the party's electoral tickets to the members contesting in the April 6 Parliamentary Elections.
Qasim has decided to give out electoral tickets to current members of the party, out of the 97 people who expressed interest in contesting in the elections for 61 constituencies. They include members who were previously declared unseated, but have since joined JP, contesting in 35 constituencies.
However, of the current members, Dhidhdhoo MP Abdul Latheef and Fares-Maathodaa MP Hussain Mohamed were not granted tickets.
Qasim assured that he would announce his decisions for more constituencies shortly.
Every member of JP's leadership is among those who requested for tickets.
Moreover, Qasim has said electoral tickets will be issued to members who win the primaries, and not simply on the merit of having been in JP for a long duration.
Qasim further elaborated that “priority will be given to those that have signed to JP and has the potential to gain seats in parliament even if they joined as recent as today or tomorrow, and tickets will not be given to members that can’t win seats even if they have served in JP for 20 years".
Former Youth Minister Iruthisham Adam, volley player Aishath Nazim and former MP Alhan Fahmy are among those that recently signed on to JP and attained tickets. It was also decided that the newly joined ex-Acting Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Nawaz, would be given an electoral ticket.
In addition, many members of JP's leadership contesting in various constituencies have been granted tickets.
Qasim further said that JP was willing to work in unity with various parties, and considerations for attaining tickets will be based on levels of education, experience and capability to serve the government.
He also stated that all candidates to win electoral tickets will be decided in the upcoming three days.
Moreover, Qasim again criticised Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for contesting in 86 constituencies and thereby violating the seat-sharing agreement within the coalition. He expressed that JP would work with all parties other than MDP in the parliamentary election.
Qasim had shed light on the coalition's agreement, saying MDP had violated the agreement by contesting for all constituencies. MDP recently held their primaries with members contesting for all 87 constituencies.
When asked about the plausibility of making a coalition with former President Abdulla Yameen, Qasim said he had no enemies, but there was no expression of interest on either side to make a coalition. However, he would “in order to attain seats, go to anyone”, he said.
JP has currently decided to contest in 36 constituencies.
Sign In