Saud running for Bilehdhoo constituency in violation of JP decision

Jumhooree Party (JP) Council Member Ahmed Saud has decided to run as an Independent candidate for the Bilehdhoo constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections set for April, which is in violation of JP's decision to issue the ticket to incumbent Bilehdhoo lawmaker Ahmed Mubeen

Saud said on Thursday that he decided to contest in the elections in response to popular requests by people in the constituency, adding that there was no discontentment over JP for not issuing him the Bilehdhoo constituency ticket.

“Many people in the constituency approached me saying I was their best choice for candidacy. They approached me with signatures sufficient to run as an independent candidate. It was then that I decided to run in accordance with their requests,” said Saud.

Saud took on a leadership role in the protests against the previous administration’s imprisonment of JP leader and current Speaker of Parliament Qasim Ibrahim. Saud was also detained at the time for his role in the protests.

Although Saud sought to attain JP’s Bilehdhoo constituency parliamentary ticket, Qasim issued the ticket to former Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) aligned Mubeen

Mubeen was elected to Bilehdhoo constituency through JP backing but later signed with PPM. Following the election of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Mubeen signed with JP.

However, Saud denied rumours that he decided to run as an independent candidate due to JP issuing the parliamentary ticket to Mubeen.

Moreover, Saud also revealed that the power to finalise decisions to issue tickets was given to the JP leader from the Council and stated that he respected the final decision.

While JP did not issue the parliamentary ticket to Saud, they have also decided not to contest in some of the constituencies that opposition PPM are contesting in. In return, PPM had also conceded constituencies to JP.

Due to the concession of constituencies to PPM, many issues have arisen within JP.

According to local media Mihaaru, a Parliamentarian and JP council member under anonymity stated that revoking party tickets is unacceptable and that working with PPM would mean being an accomplice to injustice.

Saud is the nephew of JP leader and Speaker of Parliament Qasim Ibrahim.