The ruling coalition of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) has received 354 applications for the primary election leading up to the 2024 parliamentary election.
The ruling coalition will be holding the primary election on December 23 to choose candidates who will be contesting 93 parliamentary seats. The opportunity to submit candidacy forms for the primary election was open from December 7-11. The coalition stated that primaries will be held in all constituencies except for 10, where the members stood as the sole candidates. As such, tickets for these 10 constituencies have been assured for the candidates running unopposed. The coalition added that the number might increase as more candidates withdraw their names.
Tickets have been secured for the Chairperson of PNC, Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who is vying for the Fonadhoo seat, along with parliamentarians Ahmed Saleem and Ahmed Thoriq, seeking re-election in the Eydhafushi and Mahibadhoo constituencies, respectively. Similarly, tickets have been confirmed for Hulhumale' Councilor Ibrahim Shujau, contending for the Baarah seat, and South Galolhu Councilor Ibrahim Mohamed, who is also running for the parliamentary seat in the same constituency.
While other parties have joined the ruling coalition, the opportunity to contest in the primary election has only been given to members of PPM and PNC. Chairperson Abdul Raheem said that no agreement has been made with coalition partners MDA and MNP to work together for the parliamentary election. He also highlighted the importance of the ruling coalition gaining the supermajority to uphold the new administration's policies.