HDC employees remove MDP banners in Hulhumalé ahead of council polls

Employees of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) removed several campaign banners placed by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in Hulhumalé ahead of the upcoming council elections.

More than six HDC employees were seen removing the banners on Monday morning while residents were at mosques for morning prayers.

Some of the banners were removed and not used again.

When contacted on Monday, an HDC media officer confirmed that the individuals seen in a video removing the banners were HDC employees. He said further comment would be provided after an internal review.

HDC Managing Director Ali Zuhair declined to comment when contacted by Dhauru. He said media inquiries should be directed to the company’s media department in line with its policy on providing information to the press.

He did not respond directly to repeated questions and again asked that inquiries be addressed to the media department.

A media official later said the banners were removed because they had been placed without permission.

Following the removal, banners belonging to candidates from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) were seen displayed in several areas of Hulhumalé.

The banners removed by HDC included campaign posters of incumbent Malé Mayor Adam Azim, who is contesting in the elections under the MDP ticket.

Speaking to Dhauru, Azim criticised the removal of the banners while banners belonging to PNC candidates remained displayed in the city.

“We have been requesting permission for several days, but HDC has not granted it. Because permission was delayed, banners were put up,” Azim said.

He alleged that the decision to remove the MDP banners while others remained in place was unfair.

Azim said all parties should have equal opportunity to campaign during the election period.

He also said HDC’s actions were restricting the ability of parties to campaign.

The banners were removed by HDC after some banners belonging to PNC candidates displayed in Hulhumalé had been defaced on the previous day.