Adhaalath Party has said that the party will not present a presidential candidate this year, but will join a coalition and support the candidate that brings together the most number of parties.

Speaking to Sun Online, Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla said that the party’s consultative committee has met last night and decided that a candidate from the party will not compete in the upcoming presidential elections.

He said that it would cause the votes divide if the party was to contest in the elections, and that instead, the party will work towards assembling the larges coalition possible.

“We are working to bring forward national interest and form a coalition with the most number of parties. We will work towards this end, because Adhaalath believes that putting forward a candidate will divide the votes even further,” said Imran.

He said that a committee has been established within the party to work to assemble a coalition, but said that they have not yet decided which parties the coalition will consist.

Adhaalath Party had joined in coalition with Jumhoory Party during the first round of 2008 presidential elections, and later with Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during the second round of the 2008 elections.