Moosa Ali Jaleel confirmed as PNC candidate for Malé mayor
Falah also said that more than 13,000 people had submitted applications to contest in the PNC primary before the deadline.
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Former Defence Minister Moosa Ali Jaleel has been confirmed as the candidate for the Malé mayoral ticket of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
The deadline for submitting applications for the PNC primary to select candidates for the upcoming local council elections expired on Tuesday. The party provided details of the primary during a press conference held at its headquarters on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from a journalist, PNC Parliamentary Group Leader and Campaign Manager Ibrahim Falah said that only one individual had applied for the party’s mayoral ticket for Malé.
“There is only one candidate from the PNC for the mayor of the city. I do not think this is a new name,” Falah said, without naming the candidate.
PNC sources later confirmed that the candidate is retired Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel.
Falah also said that more than 13,000 people had submitted applications to contest in the PNC primary before the deadline. He said this marked the highest number of applicants for a party primary in a local council election in the Maldives.
According to Falah, the PNC is expected to field candidates in the highest number of council seats in the upcoming elections.
“In the previous council elections, the highest coverage by a party was about 80 per cent. This time, applications submitted by the PNC cover about 97 per cent,” he said.
He added that the primary process would be conducted in accordance with party rules and election procedures.
Falah also said that no ruling party has won a council election in the past, but expressed confidence that the PNC would secure a victory in the upcoming polls.
Key details of the PNC primary include:
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The primary election will be held on 27 December
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Voting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Voters may cast ballots in the island to which they are registered
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A national ID card, passport, or driving licence must be presented to vote
Meanwhile, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) primary for the Malé mayoral ticket is scheduled for 30 January. Incumbent Malé Mayor Adam Azim and former Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim are contesting for the MDP ticket.
The local council elections are scheduled to be held on 4 April.
