The Democrats aim to gain 10,000 members by year end

The Democrats have stated they have commenced a membership drive with the aim of gaining 10,000 members by the end of the year.

The Democrats founder and candidate for its presidency Hassan Latheef shared with Mihaaru that the party is currently undertaking various efforts to increase its membership.

"Especially those who are contesting in elections in various areas of Maldives, raising membership numbers is something they are doing, with the added incentive of it being for their own benefit as well. In addition to these candidates, the party itself is also conducting work to increase membership," he said.

"Our target is to gain at least 10,000 members by the end of December, and to hand in those forms to the Elections Commission."

Senior officials of The Democrats are, even at present, travelling to various atolls in a bid to encourage the joining of new members to the party.

The Democrats is a breakaway party of the Maldives' largest political party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). A large number of members quit MDP and formed The Democrats claiming that MDP is contravening the fundamental principles and values upon which it was built.

After establishing The Democrats, 3000 membership forms were submitted to the Elections Commission.

The party received over 15,000 votes in the first round of September's presidential election.