Yasir, councillors rejoining MDP won't have much impact, says Democrats

The Democrats will not be affected by the defection of Kulhudhuffushi MP Yasir Abdul Latheef and the city's councillors, The Democrats said on Wednesday.

Yasir, who was among the 12 MPs that left the ruling MDP in May to form The Democrats, along with the city's councillors who followed him to quit MDP and join The Democrats left the breakaway party founded by speaker Mohamed Nasheed and rejoined MDP on Tuesday. 

The Democrats held a press conference at the party's office in H. Maizaandhoshuge in Male Wednesday morning. Atoll Times asked party spokesperson and Maafannu North MP Imthiyaz Fahumy about the matter.

"Hopefully we will not be affected by it. We will hopefully secure the vote of Kulhudhuffushi for The Democrats. A lot of people have signed up to this party," Imthiyaz said.

"So, hopefully The Democrats candidate will take majority”.

Imthiyaz did not directly answer the question about why they left The Democrats.

"Our party will not know the reason. They came to this party. They went back again, they came back again. They went back again, it went like that," Imthiyaz said.

He added:

Asked if Yasir joined The Democrats after being talked into becoming the party's presidential candidate, Imthiyaz said there were no such discussions or conditions. The party's decisions are made on a democratic basis, he said.

Democrats' upcoming campaign tours:

The two trips will be attended by the party’s presidential candidate, Ilyas Labeeb and parliament speaker Mohammad Nasheed, Imthiyaz said. In addition, running mate Hussain Amr will be in Baa atoll this week.