MP Jabir labels expulsion "wrongful", will contest independently

Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir has said that he was wrongfully expelled from the main opposition party Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) and that he would contest the upcoming parliamentary elections independently.

Jabir was expelled from the party for disciplinary issues. He was expelled after he won the party's primary held on Saturday and secured the ticket for Kaashidhoo constituency, once again.

Jabir told Atoll Times on Tuesday that the decision was taken in violation of the party's charter and he would sue those responsible.

“I will file lawsuits against President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, Chairman Fayyaz [Ismail] and the members of the National Assembly who made that decision,” Jabir said.

"I will contest the Kaashidhoo constituency. I will win the election”.

In a statement issued on Monday, MDP said one of the reasons for his expulsion was that he used abusive language that went against the general norms of conduct in society as an MDP candidate for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“This act is prejudicial to the interest of this party and its ordinary members. The Action Committee of this party has decided not to allow Jabir to contest the 20th parliamentary elections on behalf of this party and to expel him from the party with effect from today," Monday’s MDP statement regarding Jabir said.

Jabir was elected to the 19th parliament in 2019 after losing the MDP primary and contesting as an independent candidate.

Elected as an independent, he first tried to rebuild the then dismantling DRP. After the party was dissolved later, he remained an independent member. He rejoined the MDP in June during the presidential election campaign last year.