Zaeem Maumoon’s rally tonight

Maumoon giving khutbah 

Maldives’ former President Abdul Gayoom will address a rally tonight – the first since he pledged to come back to active politics last month.

His speech tonight is highly anticipated in the backdrop of the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) grappling with internal clashes.

Although it was earlier said that only Gayoom would address the rally, Miadhu reported today afternoon that the rally will be addressed by DRP Leader Thasmeen Ali too.

The party’s internal crisis peaked when its Deputy Leader Umar Naseer who was at loggerheads with Thasmeen, was sacked by a party disciplinary committee.

Gayoom spoke against the dismissal, siding with Umar.

He said it was not valid, according to the party charter where a sitting deputy can only be removed from the post by a party congress.

Gayoom’s comments backing Umar signaled that his relations with Thasmeen, who was his running mate at the 2008 elections, have soured.

However, today’s rally bringing together both the former Leader Gayoom and the incumbent Thasmeen will manage to
put up a show of unity.

Yet, there is no clear sign of real unity in the party, with an anti-Thasmeen faction emerging already.

And the doors are still open for any change to the party charter at the 2012 congress, allowing primaries to elect a presidential candidate.

Presently, the party leader by default will become the presidential contestant, according to the charter.

Umar has publicly called for party primaries to elect a candidate ahead of the 2013 presidential election in the Maldives.

Umar also met with Gayoom last month in Malaysia, following his removal and urged him to come back to politics, and to contest the 2013 presidential elections.

Gayoom so far has not announced plans to contest, although he pledged to join the campaign trail ahead of the local elections next month.

Meanwhile, People’s Alliance Leader Abdulla Yamin has told media that he was ready to back Gayoom if he was standing for president.

Yamin who is Gayoom’s half brother has already declared himself as a presidential candidate from the PA.

Yamin is not slated to attend the rally tonight.

- Asian Tribune -