Embattled ex-pres Yameen to field 40 candidates for parliament polls

The People’s National Front (PNF) has announced that 40 candidates will contest 40 constituencies in the upcoming 20th Parliament with the support of former President Abdullah Yameen. Fifteen of them have submitted their forms to the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday.

The PNF leaders went to the EC to hand over the forms of some of the candidates contesting the parliamentary elections with Yameen's support.

Speaking to the media after handing over the forms, former Technology Minister Mohammed Maleeh Jamal said 40 candidates will contest the parliamentary elections with Yameen's support. About 15 forms were submitted to the EC on Tuesday, he said, and that the candidates will be announced soon.

He also said that even if PNF candidates are contesting with Yameen's support, the PNF logo will not appear on the ballot papers of the candidates in the election as the party's registration has been delayed.

However, the ballot papers of the candidates contesting the election with Yameen's support will have the purple color representing the PNF, he said. Therefore, he urged the people to pay attention to that when voting.

"In addition, the PNC also has people who are contesting as loyal MPs supporting Yameen. So, I would like to ask for votes for these candidates. This time there will be no name of PNF on the ballot papers. We have selected purple as our colour. We will continue to reveal through TV who our candidates are”.

Maleeh said more candidates will submit their forms on Wednesday. The submission of forms is being delayed because it takes time to clear criminal records. He also called on the EC to extend the deadline for nominations. He said there was no legal obstacle to that now.

The deadline for nominations expires on Wednesday. The Election Commission has already said that it will not extend the deadline after expiry.

Yameen formed PNF following a falling out with his former housing minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu after he won the presidency last November. 

Yameen is still serving 15 years in prison on corruption and money laundering charges linked to the biggest graft scandal in the country's history. 

The former president however, was transferred to house arrest shortly after Muizzu won the presidency.