Nasheed congratulates Gasim after JP pres ticket handover

Parliament speaker Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday congratulated Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Gasim Ibrahim, who was officially given the party's presidential ticket on Friday.

Gasim, who had earlier confirmed the party's presidential ticket uncontested, was formally presented the ticket at a public rally held at Male carnival area on Friday evening.

Nasheed, who is leading a breakaway political party called The Democrats despite still serving as ruling MDP president, congratulated Gasim on Twitter.

"It is the duty of all of us to ensure free and fair elections," he said.

After Nasheed lost the MDP presidential primary to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, he formed a separate faction within the party called Fikuregge Dhirun. The faction members have now quit MDP and is working on registering The Democrats party.

Nasheed's faction earlier held negotiations to compile a joint manifesto for the presidential election, but the talks have since stalled following Nasheed's proposal to change the governance system from presidential to parliamentary system. 

The Democrats has also said the party will field their candidate to the September 9 presidential election.

The third largest party in the country, which plays a key role in deciding the results in every presidential election, handed over presidential ticket to Gasim after rejecting an invitation from President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to renew the existing coalition agreement for a second term.

JP members in political posts are leaving the party after Gasim, who contested the first two of the three presidential elections held so far under the current constitution, decided to enter the presidential race again this time as well.