Leader of Jumhooree Party (JP), Qasim Ibrahim has said that the opposition should be able to elect enough members in upcoming Parliamentary elections to hold the government responsible.

While Qasim has announced his campaign for Maamigili constituency, he spoke more on the matter at the event launching his campaign last night. He said that allowing the government coalition party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to win a majority at Parliament is not right.

Qasim noted that only a healthy opposition can hold the government responsible and as such, Parliamentary seats should be granted to members of the opposition.

The current Speaker of Parliament noted that it is the opposition that will mainly hold the government responsible. As such, he urged the people to vote for the opposition in the Parliamentary election.

Qasim has said this while former President Yameen’s party, the opposition, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has yanked the party’s tickets for the election and chosen to back Qasim’s JP’s candidates.

Many have now speculated due to this change in backing, that JP has formed a coalition with PPM.

Both parties have however not officially accepted that a coalition has taken place between the parties.

Qasim had also spoken critically of the ruling party MDP at last night’s campaign rally.

As such, Qasim said that MDP has thrown JP to the streets after successfully using JP to get what they had wanted.

The leader of JP has said that President of MDP and former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has chosen not to divide seats in Parliamentary election as agreed before in the coalition. Qasim has also said that the four leaders of the coalition had agreed on how the Parliamentary election and local council elections will go on. As such, he has claimed that Chairperson of MDP and current President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had signed an agreement with these terms. Qasim has also said that he is still in possession of this said agreement.

Qasim had then urged to grant the seats in Parliament to Jumhooree Party (JP) as previously agreed. As such, Qasim said that the government should carry out its affairs, as agreed within the agreement.

The leader of JP has also urged President Solih to honor board member appointments and jobs that were to be given to parties of the coalition.

Qasim said that the coalition earning a majority at Parliament is not an issue. He has however said that MDP gaining a majority at Parliament is simply not right.