Former Information Minister Nasheed resigns from DRP

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

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Former Information Minister Mohamed Nasheed who has been one of the most influential members of the council of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has resigned from the party. The news of his resignation came to light yesterday after weeks of speculation about the popular politician leaving DRP where he had played a key role during the last 3 years of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s presidency. Nasheed was holding a dominant advisory position in the Government and DRP especially after the sudden and surprise resignation of Dr.Hassan Saeed from the post of Attorney General and Dr. Ahmed Shaheed from the post of Foreign Minister in 2007. Dr. Saeed and Dr. Shaheed, who were both powerful and very close to former President Gayoom, resigned blaming Gayoom’s reform program as a failure. Thus Nasheed took over much of the reform works done by the two ministers and became Reform Minister in the last year of Gayoom’s Government

Nasheed’s resignation from DRP was confirmed by the party, but we were unable to get a comment from him about his move. There are speculations that Nasheed famously known as Kutti Nasheed will join the ruling MDP where he will be given key leadership positions. Others say Nasheed may be joining Hassan Saeed’s Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP). There are also rumors suggesting he will join Gasim Ibrahims Jumhoory party and will become its leader.

Nasheed who is one of the most outstanding and popular lawyers in the country has been a strong advocate of reform. He became popular from the time he served as Secretary General of the Peoples Majlis where he did much work to improve the organization and formulating a new standing order. He joined Gayoom’s cabinet on the condition of having a free hand in his media and legislative reform ideals. He initiated many bills to liberalize media and broadcasting. He is very eloquent and speaks to the point which has earned him considerable public support.

After the defeat of former president Gayoom in the first multi-party presidential election, Nasheed decided to keep a low profile in the DRP politics but he contested Kulhuduffushi South seat as an independent in the first parliamentary election in May this year, and was elected. Nasheed, who had always fought for reform and justice even when he was in Gayoom’s Government, had criticized Gayoom in his election campaign for Kulhuduffushi South seat which is a strong base of Gayoom’s support. In the new Majlis Nasheed has been one of the most active MPs and has proposed several bills which were aimed at benefiting the common man.

Nasheed is one of the most popular and promising leaders in the country and many feel he is a man very capable to be the President.

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