Coalition parties stand alone for parliamentary polls

With the four coalition parties unable to reach an agreement on jointly contesting, pro-government candidates will be competing against each other as well as independent and opposition candidates.

The MDP is fielding candidates in all but one of the 87 constituencies, a decision that drew accusations from the Jumhooree Party of reneging on an unpublicised coalition agreement. But the MDP insists there is no binding agreement signed by all four leaders.

On Wednesday night, the JP awarded tickets to 36 candidates – including most of its lawmakers, leadership figures and new recruits from the former ruling party – after the party’s council gave the power to choose candidates to leader Gasim Ibrahim. More candidates, who would be chosen based on electability, would be announced in the near future, he said.