Shifaz: If MDP Congress adopts ‘Bodu Badhalu’, Parliament’s structure will also be reshaped

The MDP Constitution is likely to undergo major changes during the upcoming Congress, the party’s Deputy Chairperson in-charge of financial affairs Mohamed Shifaz (Shippe) said on Tuesday evening.

Speaking on SSTV’s Baaru Hathareh programme, Shifaz said the Congress is currently working on the reform paper and that several proposals and amendments have already been submitted.

“Now there are many ideas and amendments, so the debate will be very important for MDP congressmen to participate,” he said.

Shifaz said that if the Congress decides to implement Bodu Badhalu, the major reform agenda championed by Fayyaz Ismail and Mohamed Nasheed, then changes to the structure of Parliament will also follow.

“One of our papers says to abolish single constituencies. That means the system of electing one MP per 5,000 members will be over,” he said.

He explained that under the proposed model, constituencies would be reorganised so that all islands within an atoll vote together to elect multiple MPs. For example, Haa Alif Atoll currently has five constituencies represented by five MPs. Under the new system, all five MPs would be elected through atoll-wide voting.

“By voting this way, we expect to reduce the part that goes to corruption and the part that exerts influence,” Shifaz said.

He added that such changes would require MPs to represent the entire atoll, not just a single constituency. This would also trigger amendments to the MDP Constitution, including how constituency presidents are elected and how party positions are structured.

Speaking further, Shifaz said the Congress will also consider whether the Bodu Badhalu manifesto is feasible, and that some policy changes related to the manifesto will be submitted for debate.

The MDP Congress will be held during the first three days of October. The event is receiving strong public response, with more than 980 participants registered, Deputy Chairman Ibrahim Waheed (Iburey) said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Online registration is open from last Sunday until Friday, and Congress kits will be distributed on Tuesday and Wednesday at the MDP headquarters.

Shifaz said more than 500 members registered on the first day, and the total has now reached 986.

The upcoming Congress and the primary for the 2028 presidential election have intensified internal political rivalry within the party.  

Key figures who have announced their intention to contest the presidential primary include:

• Fayyaz Ismail, former Economic Minister  

• Abdulla Shahid, former MDP President and Foreign Minister  

• Dr. Ahmed Shamheed, MP for Hulhumale' South  

• Faisal Naseem, former Vice President