Former JSC member's heavy allegation on PPM internal elections

Former JSC member Mohamed Saleem, recently contending for Vilimale' constituency in the Progressive Party of Maldives' (PPM) internal elections, has laid serious allegations.

According to Saleem, voting was rigged in favor of specific candidates.

Saleem lost to former Hoarafushi MP and the Chair of PPM's Activities Committee Mohamed Ismail.

While the party has yet to make a formal announcement of the results, voting confirms landslide victory for Ismail.

Following preliminary results, Saleem has lodged a complaint alleging the voting for Vilimale' constituency was rigged. He had brought to the party's attention, possible increment in voting tickets for the Vilimale' ballot box.

A message from Saleem to PPM's President Abdulla Yameen and other seniors alleged that extra voting tickets were added to the box apparently on the instruction of Yameen, and the party's Vice President and Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam. He also alleges internal collusion, claiming involvement of PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdulla along with Shiyam and Male' City Council member Ibrahim Shujau.

The party has however denied the allegations, while Saleem has remained silent from publicly speaking on the issue.

Meanwhile, the party's Secretary General Mohamed Tholal asserts voting tickets were not assigned, nor carried by any member of PPM's leadership. He adds the in-party elections were managed by a designated committee for the purpose.

Tholal confirms receiving an oral complaint over additional votes in Vilimale' ballot box. He notifies the box had four extra votes.

"The difference of votes between the members has been significant, and it [extra votes] will not make any impact on the results. But we are looking into the matter via a committee for it," Tholal said.

A similar case of extra votes were reported from another ballot box in Male' City. The issue is also being looked at, according to Tholal.

Despite extra votes in ballots, Tholal assures there was no room for collusion by the party in maneuvering results.

"No one had seen the voting tickets prior to elections, we did not disclose samples of it either," he added.

The prime opposition party has further claimed their recent in-party elections have been exemplary. The party's president also claims PPM's elections did not parallel the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) in-party elections.