Nasheed loyalists' resignation won't have any impact, says MDP
The faction said it would approach the Election Commission next week seeking permission to form the party.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Ruling MDP said on Wednesday that the en masse resignation of parliamentarians and prominent party members loyal to party president Mohamed Nasheed will not affect the party.
A dozen lawmakers belonging to Nasheed's Fikuregge Dhirun faction quit the party on Wednesday following the expulsion of Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim on Tuesday. They have announced efforts to form a new political party called Fikuregge Dhirun.
MDP spokesperson Anas Abdul Sattar told Atoll Times that members leaving the party after losing internal primaries is not new. He pointed out that people had left the party in the same way in the past.
"MDP, we will move forward as MDP," he said.
Although Nasheed remains as member of MDP, his aides have said the new party being formed will field their own candidate or endorse a candidate for the September 9 presidential election. His aides also declined to comment on Nasheed's future course of action.
The faction said it would approach the Election Commission next week seeking permission to form the party.
