Former president Mohamed Nasheed, on Saturday, declared that Jumhooree Party (JP)'s leader and Speaker of Parliament Qasim Ibrahim was being deceived by former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Nasheed, the current leader of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), made the allegations while addressing the crowd at a campaign gathering held in Dhiyamigili, Thaa Atoll, to garner support for Mohamed Nasir who is contesting for Guraidhoo constituency on behalf of MDP in the upcoming parliamentary election.

The former president stated that Yameen had laid out an elaborate trap for JP, a member of the ruling coalition, and that the party was being easily deceived.

Political divisions within the ruling coalition have prompted JP to partner up with the opposition coalition, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People's National Congress (PNC), to prepare for the parliamentary election slated for April 6.

Nasheed also refuted Yameen's statements that it would only be possible to 'breathe easy' if JP, PNC and PNC managed to gain a parliamentary majority.

Mirroring Yameen's rhetoric, Nasheed stated that the citizens had decisively voted him out of power because they 'could not breathe'. He further claimed that the fear of returning to authoritarian rule was keeping citizens from breathing easy.

Additionally, Nasheed heavily criticized Yameen for the imprisonment of political leaders during his presidency, including Yameen's estranged half-brother and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and the latter's son Faris Maumoon.

"President Yameen cannot breathe because he is unable to regain authoritarian rule", stated Nasheed.

The former president also added that MDP was 'awake' and that as long as the current administration remained in power, necessities such as housing would be successfully provided under Agenda 19.