Mr Mohammed Abdul Kareem (Rukuma) the member of parliament for Henveyru South constituency has resigned from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
MP Rukuma tweeted saying that he is leaving MDP with profound sadness, but enemies and loyal people can no longer be identified within MDP. Even though he is a sitting MP, he lost the party’s ticket to contest for the election, in the primary held by the party last month.
Many accused the party of rigging the primary and MP Rukuma is one of the three sitting MPs who lost the party ticket. MP Rukuma lost to Mr Hussein Shaheem (Andhun Hussein) a close associate of former President Nasheed. Mr Hussein Shaheem was also suspected of receiving money from SOF a company which is believed to have laundered money embezzled from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company (MMPRC).
It is believed that MP Rukuma will contest for the seat as an independent candidate after the Supreme Court issued a verdict stating that candidates who lose party primaries can contest in the election as independent candidates. Meanwhile, yesterday MDP threatened to take action against those who plan to contest as independent candidates.
