Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom has dismissed reports of a split in the DRP leaderships as “a media campaign conducted in the interests of” the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Rumours of an internal dispute surfaced in the media on Thursday after the party issued conflicting statements about a protest planned for Friday night, which was later postponed due to bad weather.
After Deputy Leaders Umar Naseer and Ilham Ahmed informed media of the “Government For Sale” protest, DRP Secretariat Abdul Rasheed Nafiz sent out text messages to media claiming the party’s leadership had not approved the decision.
DRP Media Coordinator Ali Solih told local daily Miadhu that action would be taken against the Deputy Leaders for “forging a press release” and announcing the protest before either the DRP leadership or the party’s council approved it.
Umar Naseer however claims the four deputies had the authority to use the party’s logo, letterhead or stamp.
Moreover, a resolution submitted to the DRP council by Umar Naseer and MPs Ilham, Ahmed Mahlouf and Ali Arif to terminate talks with the government has not been included in the agenda for tomorrow’s council meeting.
“Solid and united”
”The last DRP council concluded very smoothly and its outcome was also very productive,” said Mausoom. ”I have not noticed that there are any disputes between the leadership of the party.”
Mausoom claimed MDP was attempting to divide DRP’s leadership as the ruling party stood to benefit from a weakened opposition.
”I said this recently also, during the speech I gave at DRP’s first rally,” Mausoom said. ”MDP will seek loop holes to get through the party and will try to divide us.”
”The bond between the party’s leadership cannot be broken although they tried, for we are solid and stay united,” he added.
The only hope MDP had of winning the presidential election in 2013 was if “DRP fell apart”, said Mausoom.
”I am not saying MDP is spreading the rumor, but some people are attempting to divide the leadership with the interest of MDP in their minds.”
Secretary General of MDP Ahmed Shah said he was saddened by Mausoom’s comment.
”We have not been focusing on DRP, especially these days,” Shah said. ”We are mainly focusing on the upcoming local council elections and the whole MDP is busy on that.”
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