Will field own candidates if shunned by coalition, says Adhaalath Party

Religiously conservative Adhaalath Party has said the party will field its own candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election, if the government coalition does not allow them to field party members as coalition candidates.

Speaking at a press conference today, Adhaalath Party president Sheikh Imran Abdulla said: “If the coalition is willing to allow Adhaalath Party to jointly announce for the parliamentary election, we are willing to field candidates through the coalition.”

“We will push for a number that they [the coalition] and [Adhaalath Party] members will agree, as a proper number to for Adhaalath Party. Efforts are underway to determine the party’s strength and how much votes were gained during the last election. This will determine how many seats the party can have.”

Adhaalath Party won 45 seats in the recent Local Council Election held on 18 January, which saw 2463 candidates compete for 1100 seats. Sheikh Imran said that 35 members have already approached to compete on party tickets.

The public hopes for parties to field candidates through the coalition, he said, and fielding separate candidates will damage the coalition and the government, said Adhaalath Party leader.

He said Adhaalath Party has asked the coalition to start discussions of fielding the candidates, but said the party will make a decision on the first week of February, regardless of whether the discussions commence.

The coalition is yet to hold official talks on competing for the parliamentary election, which is scheduled for 22 March.