MDP accuses Housing Ministry of reopening Thulhaadhoo housing applications to influence council election

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday accused the Housing Ministry of opening applications for 100 housing units in Baa atoll Thulhaadhoo in an attempt to influence the upcoming local council elections.

The ministry recently cancelled the permanent list compiled by the Thulhaadhoo Island Council for the allocation of the units, which were built during the previous MDP administration. It has since announced that applications for the units will reopen on the 11th of this month.

In a statement, the MDP said the distribution of the units had been halted under a court order, and argued that reopening applications without the involvement of the island council violates the Constitution, the Decentralization Act and the principles of local governance.

The party accused the government of engaging in a “fraudulent” effort to sway the upcoming council elections and urged the administration to immediately stop such actions. It also called on the Thulhaadhoo Council to take all necessary steps to prevent what it described as an unlawful move.

The dispute over the housing units has been ongoing for more than a year. Last September, residents protested at the council office over delays in allocating the units, leading to a temporary suspension of council operations. Following the protests, the council published a permanent points list for applicants.

However, the Housing Ministry announced last month that the list, compiled by the MDP‑majority council, had been cancelled, citing legal and procedural issues.