Waheed says hoped to get PPM ticket, but was disrespected

Former President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik said on Friday that he had hoped to get the presidential ticket of PPM in case former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom could not contest this year's presidential election, but was denied the opportunity due to lack of respect for his decade-long service in the party.

When Yameen, who was handed the PPM ticket for the September 9presidential election, was denied candidacy due to his 11-year jail sentence, Waheed had expressed interest in the ticket.

Waheed left PPM on August 10 after the opposition PPM-PNC coalition decided to continue with PNC candidate Dt Mohamed Muizz. Two days later, Waheed signed up to JP at a rally in ADh. Maamigili.

JP leader Gasim Ibrahim started his presidential campaign tour on Friday, and speaking at a rally in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi on Friday, Waheed said the PPM had treated him very “disrespectfully”.

Waheed said he had been with Yameen for 10 years and had hoped that PPM would give him a chance if Yameen could not contest.

He left the PPM because, according to Waheed, no one had been given that opportunity.

"I was hoping I might get that opportunity if President Yameen doesn't run. There are three options within the party," he said.

The three options are:

However, the PPM-PNC senate did not decide on the presidential election as requested by Yameen, Waheed said.

"No PPM candidate was given a chance. So, I was there for 10 years, but if things went that way without any respect, any consideration, I don't have to be there. I don't have to be anywhere," he said.

However, he then thought about how it would be best for Maldives, he said, adding that he saw his old friend Gasim as the easiest candidate to support.

Waheed praised Gasim for being an old friend who worked together during the political movement to bring political reforms to the country. He said he came to Gasim because he trusted and respected him. He said that Gasim has not treated him badly so far.