PPM press conference held at new office PHOTO: Mihaaru
Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) scheduled to hold its primary of the Local Council Elections on January 27.
Speaking at a press conference held at the new PPM office, Secretary General and lawmaker of Nilandhoo Constituency Abdulla Khaleel stated that the party has to hold the primary at 64 constituencies.
Adding that all preparations are ongoing for the primary, Khaleel stated that 212 candidates were chosen without a primary.
Khaleel noted that primary is held for constituencies with more than one eligible candidate, constituencies where coalition candidates have applied and constituencies where no candidate scored enough points.
“We have received forms from more than 600 applicants.”
Spokesperson of PPM Ali Arif said that issues are possible to be found with the PPM’s register as the actual register was said to be lost during the shift from Themaa house in Henveiru ward, the former PPM office, to Dharubaaruge Convention Center which was temporarily used as the activity hub of the party.
Arif did not announce the total number of eligible voters, hence said it will be shared with the candidates.
According to the register at Elections Commission, there are 36,232 members in PPM till February 21, 2015.
Khaleel noted that voters will be eligible only if registered before last December 15.
Arif was confident that PPM will be able to win the 2017 Local Council Elections and said that it is evident from their visits to various islands.
The election was postponed to April 8, following a Civil Court’s order to delay the elections originally scheduled for January 14, by two months.