Nasheed says nothing to discuss with president

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) president Mohamed Nasheed said on Friday that he does not believe standing behind President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the upcoming presidential election is what is best for the nation.

Nasheed made the remarks in response to MDP chairperson Fayyaz Ismail's statement on Thursday, via a tweet from his unofficial Twitter account, 'Aneh Dhivehiraajje'.

Speaking to the media outside the Sun Siyam Building after a discussion meeting with the MDA to form an alliance for the September 9 presidential election, Fayyaz told reporters that he was also in talks with Nasheed to ensure that MDP remains a strong party for the presidential election.

Although MDP is currently divided into two factions, Fayyaz said he was confident of staying strong in the elections.

"I have no discussion with MDP regarding the presidential election," Nasheed said in his first tweet from his unofficial account in response to Fayyaz's comments.

In the next tweet, Nasheed said that he was wrong to say that there was no discussion with MDP in his first tweet.

"We have to work for the betterment of the Maldives and MDP, but I don't think it's going to be by standing with President Solih," Nasheed said.

Nasheed, who won 39% in last month's presidential primary, accepted the results of the primary but decided to not support President Solih. During the primary campaign, he had said that he would not be with President Solih even if he lost.

Since the primaries, Nasheed has been trying to get 50,000 signatures for his 'Fikuregge Dhirun' faction.

Nasheed has said that if MDP goes ahead with the presidential election along with President Solih, the party will lose the election.