The best way forward is not to contest the presidential election, former President Mohamed Nasheed said Wednesday night, as he urged the opposition candidate to not contest as well.

Former President Abdulla Yameen, who is currently in jail for bribery, is the candidate of the Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition.

However, he will not be able to contest if the conviction remains in place.

"In my opinion, both of us should not run in this election. Instead, we should work together to achieve what the people want," Nasheed said speaking at the inaugural meeting of the new Democrats party.

Nasheed, who recently left the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), announced that he would be joining The Democrats.

Political leaders at the meeting.

His remarks about not contesting the election came as senior leaders of the PPM-PNC coalition sat in the front row of the packed Ghiyasuddin School hall for the meeting.

"The polls show that the majority of the people are undecided. President Solih gets 15 percent. I get six percent. President Yameen gets 18 percent. The majority of the people of Maldives, 55 percent of the people are undecided," Nasheed stated.

"I have not said that I will contest. So there is no need to count that six percent. President Yameen is in jail. However, he is getting 18 percent."

He added that all opposition politicians should come together and defeat President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential election.

“It is our responsibility to find a way [to defeat him],” Nasheed said.

"Nasheed and The Democrats are a little behind"

The PPM-PNC coalition's leadership was quick to respond to Nasheed's remarks.

PPM's Vice President MP Ahmed Shiyam said Nasheed expressed his personal opinion and that The Democrats has not yet put forward a candidate for the presidential election.

"President Nasheed is expressing his views. President Nasheed and The Democrats are a little behind in this election. They have not even nominated a candidate. The PPM/PNC has already started the campaign with President Yameen as our candidate," he said.

Former MP Mohamed Ismail described Nasheed as a leader with no direction.

"Whether Nasheed contests the presidential election or not is his own decision. Nasheed telling President Yameen what to do is unacceptable. [Nasheed] and Yameen are two ideologies," he said.

PNC's President Abdul Raheem Abdulla was hopeful that Yameen would be able to contest.

"The people believe that only President Yameen will be able to do what the country needs. The people do not believe that any other leader can save the country," he said.

The PPM-PNC and The Democrats recently held discussions. The meetings were not about the presidential election, but it was about cooperating on national issues, Abdul Raheem said earlier.