Elections Commission (EC) on Sunday granted Mohamed Didi, the former State Minister for Islamic Affairs, permission to form his new political party 'National Reform Party'.
With the authorisation, Didi is to collect minimum 3,000 members in order to register his party.
Formerly a member of religiously conservative Adhaalath Party and the Civil Alliance, Mohamed Didi is a close associate of former Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.
He had actively campaigned for Dr. Shaheem, who ran as former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's running mate in the last Presidential Election in September 2018.
The EC has also received a request to form another party, 'Karisma Party Maldives'.
The electoral watchdog recently granted permission to form four new political parties, including former President Yameen's 'People's National Congress'.