83 candidates drop out of Council Elections, most from MDP

15 additional candidates have withdrawn their names from the postponed Local Council Elections and the Women’s Development Committee Elections.

Elections Commission (EC) has announced that the latest to drop out of the races include 13 candidates for the Local Council Elections, five of whom had been running for seats allocated specifically for women. The remaining two were candidates for the Women’s Development Committee Elections.

Most of the candidates who withdrew their names were candidates from Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Eight candidates from MDP withdrew their names, while the rest include four candidates from Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), two independent candidates, and one Jumhoory Party (JP) candidate.

Total 83 candidates have withdrawn their names from the Local Council Elections so far, reducing the number of candidates contending for council seats to 2,307.

Meanwhile, there are 1,785 candidates still in running for the Women’s Development Committee Elections.

Candidates were allowed the opportunity to withdraw their names under Article 3 (b) of Special Provisions Act on Local Council Elections 2020 starting June 23.

The Local Council Elections and Women’s Development Committee Elections were originally scheduled to be held in April this year, but were postponed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

EC recently announced it plans on holding the elections on March 6.