By-election for V. Thinadhoo council presidency scheduled for 28 November

The Elections Commission has announced that a by-election to elect the president of V. Thinadhoo Council will be held on 28 November, following a decision by the Local Government Authority (LGA) that former council president Ali Shujaau had lost his seat.

The commission opened nominations for the by-election on Sunday, with applications accepted until 2pm on 26 October.

According to the commission, voting will take place on 28 November from 8am to 4pm.

Shujaau, who previously served as president of Vaavu Atoll Council, was elected president of Thinadhoo Council earlier this year on the ticket of The Democrats.

He subsequently joined the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) after The Democrats was dissolved.

In July, the LGA determined that Shujaau had lost his council seat as a result of his change in political party affiliation.

Under the Decentralisation Act, a councillor elected on the ticket of a political party loses their seat if they register as a member of another political party during their elected term.

The Democrats was established by former President Mohamed Nasheed and his supporters following disagreements within the MDP.

The party was subsequently dissolved after failing to maintain the minimum membership required under the Political Parties Act.

Shujaau has previously stated that he joined the MDP following the dissolution of The Democrats.

The Elections Commission's announcement confirms that the vacant council presidency will be filled through the by-election scheduled for 28 November.