Gasim denies running mate talks with Nasheed

Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim said on Wednesday that he is eager to give details of the political discussions with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Also, the MP from Maamigili constituency has denied reports that he is trying to appoint speaker Mohamed Nasheed as his running mate in the upcoming elections.

He visited the President's Office this morning and met with President Solih. Speaking to reporters in front of the president's office after coming out of the meeting, he said he could not say whether a consensus was reached on a particular issue during his discussions with the president.

He, however, gave a brief reply to some of the speculations surrounding him in politics.

Nasheed, who is also the president of the main ruling party MDP, has denied reports that he is contesting the election as Gasim’s running mate. He said no such discussion or any such proposal had reached him.

Regarding Gasim’s discussions with President Solih, he said that since the Jumhooree Party is already a part of the ruling coalition, the discussions regarding the coalition were discussed in Wednesday's meeting.

"There was also talk about the alliance. Aren't we already in an alliance? Won't we talk about the alliance?," he said, adding that he was not willing to say whether he had agreed to a particular issue or not.

Speaking on the occasion, Gasim said that he is the leader of JP and he will act according to the decision of the party council.

"I am yet to decide," he said when asked if he would contest the elections separately.

"I cant say we have decided which way. The decision to form an alliance will be taken only after the council makes its decision."

Gasim repeatedly denied reports that his condition to support President Solih for a second time is to provide a huge loan to his business by providing sovereign guarantees from the state. He said no such discussion was made during his discussions with the president.

"I've never made such a proposal. We have not issued any such thing either," he said, pointing out that there was no room for such an allegation.

One of the coalition partners of the current government, Gasim, met with President Solih, and the President has already invited all the partners to maintain the existing coalition. So far, only the Adhaalath Party has taken a decision on the invitation. The party has decided to stay with the president.

Gasim is yet to take a direct decision on contesting the upcoming presidential elections. At JP’s national conference held last weekend, the party had recommended to the council to contest the elections.

Criticising President Solih, saying the government's work was slow, Gasim made an indirect reference at JP’s national conference.

Representatives of President Solih's current rival, MDP President and former close aide of the President, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, have met with Gasim. Since then, there has been a lot of praise for Nasheed and there have been rumours that Nasheed might become his running mate.