mdp support
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MDP Support At All Time Low, Leadership Candidates Row(modified)
The Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) support within the atolls is at an all time low. This was reflected in the low turnout for the MDP's internal elections held across the country over the last week. Surprisingly, it was lowest in Addu atoll where the MDP claims that it has over ten thousand members. Only a hundred voters turned up in Addu atoll and fewer than two thousand voters cast their vote nation wide.
This might have shocked foreign observers, who were lead to believe that the MDP had a far greater number of members than the actual figures. The fact of the matter is that, the MDP has not been giving out the right figures to anyone. Olhuala.com estimates that although the MDP claims that its members number in the tens of thousands, the actual figure is far less than nine thousand five hundred, at the most. Olhuala.com arrived at this figure through interviews conducted with key figures working at the MDP offices in the Capital, Male'.
Another major set back for the MDP was that, Male' MP Ibrahim Ismail (Ibura) was not elected as leader of the Shaviyani province. Mr Ismail managed fewer than twenty votes. 'Mr Ismail is deeply saddened, by the outcome of the elections' said one of his close friends who preferred to remain unnamed. Mr Ismail a candidate in the MDP leadership contest accused Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku (another runner for the MDP top post) of using 'below the belt tactics' by 'spreading lies' that Mr Ismail believes lead to his defeat, during a brief interview with olhuala.com. Mr Ismail said that ' (Nazaki) Zaki, was in constant contact with his cronies, on the ground in Shaviyani atoll, throughout the election period'. He also said that 'he (Zaki) made his supporters spread rumours about Mr Ismail, accusing him of taking bribes, and dishonesty.
Dr Waheed refused to make any comments about these events, when asked by olhuala.com. Dr Waheed was implicated in the early 90’s for planning to bomb the SAARC Summit held in Male’. He is also thought to be the mastermind behind the wave of arson attacks that Male’ saw during that period. Dr Waheed left the country in a hurry to avoid prosecution.
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