Have never asked to be Gasim

Leader of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Ahmed Thasmeen Ali has refuted claims by Jumhoory Party that he had asked JP Leader Gasim Ibrahim to appoint him as his running mate for the presidential elections.

Speaking to Sun tonight, Thasmeen said that JP’s claims that he had asked for Gasim’s appointment was retaliation to a statement he had made during a Forward with the Nation coalition campaign event held last night.

Repeating his comments last night directed at the JP presidential candidate, Thasmeen said a 21st century presidential candidate should have “knowledge, wisdom and discipline.”

He said that neither DRP nor himself had ever proposed that he be considered Gasim’s running mate and that such claims by JP are completely fabricated.

“DRP council had decided, after they realized that the best, the most beneficial thing for the country is to go with Dr. Waheed for the presidential election. There is no truth in what Jumhoory Party said today. Neither DRP, nor I personally, have proposed to become Gasim running mate. I don’t make such decisions on my own,” vice presidential candidate for the Forward with the National coalition, Ahmed Thasmeen Ali said.

At a JP press conference held earlier today, the party’s deputy leader Dr. Hussain Rasheed said that they do not believe that Thasmeen would ever criticize Gasim and that Thasmeen was the first person to come forward and propose to be Gasim’s running mate.

“Honourable Thasmeen wanted to contest as running mate and the first person he asked for it was our leader (Gasim Ibrahim). So Thasmeen would know well, the quality of Gasim’s ability,” Dr. Hussain told the press.