Gasim invites 5 parties including opposition PPM to form alliance

Jumhooree Party (JP) leader and presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim on Monday extended an invitation to five parties, including the main opposition PPM, to form an alliance for the upcoming presidential election.

JP council unanimously approved to give the JP presidential ticket to Gasim after no one else applied in the primary. The council had earlier authorised discussions to form an alliance for the presidential elections.

JP Secretary General Ali Arif told Atoll Times that they have sent letters to five parties to form an alliance with the party as per the council's decision.

Among the parties they have decided to invite are MNP, which is headed by Dhangethi MP Mohamed Nazim, and MRM, founded by former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Among the other individuals invited:

When Gasim had invited PPM into coalition, the party had already announced former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom as presidential candidate. However, his conviction on bribery and money laundering charges has hampered his bid to run for president.

Yameen came to power in 2013 through an alliance with JP with the help of Gasim. However, the coalition broke down in the middle of the government.

While Gasim invited five people, MDP president Mohamed Nasheed's 'Fikuregge Dhirun' MDP faction has begun working with JP. The two sides are now holding meetings to prepare a manifesto.