MP Colonel Nasheed defects to DRP, claiming MDP “undisciplined”

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP for Nolhivarum constituency Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed has opted to join the government-aligned Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP).

The DRP was founded by former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and now led by his former vice presidential nominee, MP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, after a split in 2011 that saw Gayoom and his supporters leave the party to form the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

During a small ceremony held at the DRP head office, Nasheed signed to the party in front of party leader Thasmeen.

The defection comes the day following his defeat in the MDP’s parliamentary group elections, in which he contested for the position of one of the two deputy leaders.

MP Nasheed placed last after receiving five votes out of the 30 members. However, he said during the ceremony that the defeat in the party election had nothing to do with his defection to DRP.

Speaking during the ceremony after joining the party, the MP said that even though former President Mohamed Nasheed had a vision to reform the country, his aides never had the same thinking.

He also claimed that he joined DRP because he wholeheartedly believed the DRP was consistent in upholding its policies, and had“civilised” policies to offer for the nation.

“MDP is a party that I love. To sell MDP’s ideology, I took it on my own shoulders and carried it to the international stage. I spent days in imprisonment to uphold that ideology. But the truth is that our former presidents can do little to help this country. We cannot remain tied with the past,” he said.

Nasheed argued that whenever there was a conflict of opinion among a group of members the matter should not be settled “in the wrestling ring”.

He also said that both the parliament and the courts deserved privileges and respect.

“All boys who get ‘A reports’ are in DRP”

“In my view, we should never disrepute the state organs. At the same time I do admit to the fact that both the country’s legislature and judiciary have their problems. I believe the DRP is the only disciplined party that can solve the problems in a civilised manner,” he said.

Nasheed also criticised the recent anti government protests led by the MDP, contending that freedom of assembly should be exercised within the law.

“I do not believe that it is freedom of assembly when protesters overturn a passing van,” he said. “I believe in the right to freedom of assembly. But it is not freedom of assembly when you shatter the windows of a car and injure two school boys in it.”

Nasheed, who spoke highly in favor of his new party, said that DRP was a formidable vehicle that only needs to be activated by a few young people.

The MP claimed the party “has the most able and competent individuals in the country”, which is reflected from the performance of DRP cabinet ministers.

“All those boys who get ‘A reports’ are in DRP and all those who gets ‘B reports’ are with the MDP. What we are seeing today is that the country is being run by boys who end up with ‘C reports’ while those who get ‘A reports’ and ‘B reports’ are kept sidelined. This is something that public should clearly think about,” MP Nasheed said.

MP Eva Abdulla and Ilyas Labeeb calling the shots in deciding party whip line: Colonel Nasheed

Nasheed also alleged that MP Eva Abdulla and MP Ilyas Labeeb were calling the shots in deciding the party whip line in parliamentary votes, and claimed that there was no discussion between the remaining members of the parliamentary group.

“[MDP’s] whip line comes depending on what Eva Abdulla and Ilyas Labeeb feel about the matter. That is not how I want to follow the party whip line. When you vote in parliament, the first priority is the nation. The nation is bigger that any of our individual interests,” Nasheed said, expressing his frustration.

“The DRP is a party that upholds principles. Those principles are followed by the members of the DRP parliamentary group. When we don’t vote on a matter, we have reasons and justifications to our actions,” he said.

Following the addition of a member to his party’s parliamentary group, an ecstatic Ahmed Thasmeen Ali said that Nasheed and he had common views and principles.

The DRP leader described MP Nasheed as a person of both conviction and principle.

“The way he acts in parliament will prove whether he is a person who sticks to principle,” Thasmeen said.

Meanwhile DRP Deputy Parliamentary Group Leader Abdulla Mausoom tweeted welcoming Nasheed’s decision to join the party.

“Happy Day! Welcome [MP Mohamed ‘Colonel’ Nasheed] to DRP, the responsible political party of Maldives,” he tweeted.

MDP response

Speaking to Minivan News about the defection, MDP Spokesperson MP Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said that MP Nasheed and the rest of the parliamentary group members did not share common thinking.

Although he said he did not know the exact reason for the defection, Ghafoor suggested that the move could be for the reason that Nasheed wanted to assure his re-election to parliament.

“Maybe it was an attempt to secure his re-election. But we see that re-election possibilities are high within our own party. We also noticed that he was working very hard to get a position in the parliamentary group which did not bear much fruit,” he said.

MP Colonel Nasheed began his parliamentary career in 2007 following a by-election victory for the Male’ seat of the constitutional assembly that drafted the current constitution. He won the seat on an MDP ticket with a support base of 7,000 votes, but left the MDP to join the Social Liberal Party (SLP) following disputes.

Nasheed again rejoined the MDP ahead of the 2009 parliamentary elections and won the seat of Nolhivaram constituency on an MDP ticket.

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15 thoughts on “MP Colonel Nasheed defects to DRP, claiming MDP “undisciplined””

  1. It's looks MDP and PPM are collecting all political prostitutes like Jabir while educated minds and moderate are slowly fading away from these two parties. Question is why? Why do Anni need a political prostitue like Jabir or Alhan or Ali Waheed or heavy boozer like Hamid ab gafoor? Why? It makes me go crazy! Why did Anni asked Ibu to get Jabir elected? Why was he elected at DRP(Gayoom times) as deputy? An why was Jabir elected by JP or Gasim party as deputy? Why? He was broke these times, except Jabir is a good host at night time for politicians in his resort with lavish drinks and girls to offer. Could this be the reason for Gayoom, Qasim and Anni to elect him by showing general public it's a democratic process? What the hell is going on?? Ordinary youth in MDP needs to stand up and question Anni rather than been blind!

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  2. The truth is that Anni had hijacked the party for so long and the guy will never allow any leader to come out from MDP as long as Anni is there.

    Anni is the biggest traitor to the nation and the biggest dictator that we have seen in our life time.

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  3. look at all of you blind sheep following these idiot politicians, none of them have our best interests, not anni not anyone else

    Start thinking for yourselves instead of blindly following

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  4. There are reasons underneath that those the eye can see. Beware. This is a plan executed by Anni and Thas.

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  5. Good riddance of bad rubbish.

    Finally this awful man is out of MDP

    Hudha Haafiz

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  6. Is this an Op-ed? This article makes kaanal sound like some sort of a cry baby. Perhaps a deeper analysis of whats happening is in order? Minivan News needs to train its journalists to study and report both sides of the story without bias.

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  7. It clearly shows that politics here is about their own interest and not to serve the people of the Maldives.
    Ideas have to be defended and passionately debated no matter how long it takes. No matter if you fail in the first round. Compromisses and positive attitude is an advantage. But please believe in your convictions and stand for your ideas.
    And dont forget, like Bismark said: politicians are the first servants of the people

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  8. Garbage disposal complete.

    Weaklings who want to compromise with drug traffickers, foreign salafis and maumoon regime strongmen have no place in the MDP.

    There will be no compromise with the enemies of Maldivian freedom. No wall, no boundary and no barricade will hold that will for liberty.

    We dont want to be stuck in a state of stagnation. We do not want to be 'polite' and 'disciplined' when saddoom soldiers grope boys on the street. When they attack us, rape our mothers and daughters, we should respond to their aggression with even more determined and bitter resistance.

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  9. Now we have to make sure this lunatic doesnt get into parliament in the next election.

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  10. @Ayya.
    i feel very very sorry for you . People like you are going to get jobless very soon and you master is going to lose the upcoming election and it will be he doomsday for you.

    Once your master lose the hold on MDP power he will become no one in the country and then a good leader will take the leadership of MDP and people like yourself will have no place in the party .

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  11. Colonel was a crappy guy when he was a teacher in majeedhiya school, and he is a crappy guy now. nothing's changed

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