Nasheed indicates Democrats may fail to reach run-off

Speaker Mohamed Nasheed hinted on Tuesday evening that The Democrats, a breakaway party he recently founded, may not go to the run-off in the upcoming presidential election.

The former president made an appeal to the main opposition PPM, at a campaign rally of The Democrats presidential candidate, Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb in Fuvahmulah on Tuesday evening.

"We have a point that we have to say to PPM members tonight. Do not force us to vote for MDP in the second round," said Nasheed, the former president of MDP who contested and lost MDP's presidential ticket to incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in January.

Nasheed asked PPM members to make a wise decision in next month's presidential election.

"I'm saying, listen very carefully, listen and think. Don't make the Democrats vote for the MDP in a second round, do not let it happen," he repeatedly said.

"Today, the PPM can do it. You have a lot of support, you have a lot of members [and] popularity in this country today."

Nasheed also called for the release of opposition leader, former President Abdulla Yameen, who lost his chance to contest the presidential election on the PPM ticket.

"We are aware of the political reality of Maldives and are planning our strategy based on that reality," Nasheed said.

"The best thing for this country today is, no doubt, that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih is not in power in this country. This government should change."

Although Nasheed has indicated that the Democrats might not go to the second round, he has previously said that there is no way that the party's candidate, Ilyas will not be in the second round.

Meanwhile, The Democrats are contesting the election in name only, President Solih said at his campaign rally in Hoadedhdhoo on Tuesday. He described it as an attempt to divide the peoples’ vote.