Four deputy leaders elected by Opposition DRP

Four deputy leaders were elected by the main Opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) at its congress that ended yesterday.

They are Thoddoo MP Ali Waheed, Gemanafushi parliamentarian Ilham Ahmed, DRP spokesman Ibrahim Shareef and former Islamic Democratic Party leader Umar Naseer.

Ali Waheed who secured 645 votes at the congress topped the list. Falling short of mere 3 votes was Ibrahim Shareef who secured the second highest number of votes at 642. Ilham came in for the third place with 593 votes followed by Umar with 502 votes.

Young parliamentarian Ali Waheed entered into politics as a spokesman of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s campaign, ahead of the 2008 presidential election.

Although a new entrant into politics, Waheed is a popular figure in the party.

Interesting though, Umar who joined the DRP last month quitting from the leadership of his own former party, the IDP, however managed to secure the post of a deputy leader in the DRP, defeating some of the party’s old guards like DRP registrar Saleem and DRP Secretary General Dr. Mausoom.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Shareef too is a member who joined the DRP from the then Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) few years ago.

Out of the 8 members who ran for the 4 positions of the party deputy leadership, Kelaa MP Dr Abdulla Mausoom (393 votes) , Ungoofaaru MP Dr Afrasheem Ali (288) , DRP registrar Mohamed Saleem ( 239) and the only female candidate Dr Fathin Hameed (210) failed to secure enough votes.

There were 969 eligible voters and 896 members voted.

- Asian Tribune -