Dr. Mohamed Saud, Member of the Council of the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), has defected from the party today. Dr. Saud sat in PPM Council as Member appointed by the Interim President of the Party.
Speaking to Sun Online today, Dr. Saud said that he left PPM because the Party’s Constitution was not being adhered to, and because of the Party leadership trying to protect vested interests of some individuals instead of general interest. Dr. Saud declined to name the person or persons whose interests were thus protected by the Party leadership.
Dr. Saud also said that PPM leadership did not support Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, who has proposed to run for the upcoming Kaashidhoo by-election from PPM. “Instead of cooperating with and supporting Waheed, who is a member of PPM interested in contesting in the Kaashidhoo by-election, PPM leadership is advising him not to contest, and to support Jumhoory Party candidate. That is the reason why I left the party. This policy is against the spirit of the party, and also against the Constitution of the party”, said Dr. Saud.
Dr. Saud used to be the Human Resources Advisor at Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) under the leadership of Ahmed Tasmin Ali. However, he left DRP and actively participated in forming PPM last year.
Dr. Saud stated that there were discussions between him and PPM leadership to resolve the differences, and that those discussions were futile. He said that there is no point in discussion the matter with anybody when the situation escalates to such an extent where it is not possible to achieve the hopes of common members of the party.
Dr. Saud said that he had no mind to join another party at the moment.
PPM Spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof said today that everyone in the party leadership had constantly requested Waheed not to contest for Kaashidhoo seat in Parliament in the upcoming by-election, and that the only member of the leadership holding a different opinion was Dr. Saud.
“It grieves me that Dr. Saud has left us over such a matter. All the parties in our Alliance have also agreed that Waheed not contesting in the by-election is best for national interest. We have all agreed that the Alliance must back up Jaabir”, said Mahloof.