Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has said that he stayed in the Jumhooree Party (JP) despite endorsing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the hope that JP leader Qasim Ibrahim could join the president’s coalition.
The JP adopted a resolution at the party’s national congress last February to contest separately in this year’s presidential election instead of going ahead with the governing coalition formed in 2018.
The party’s council endorsed the decision in March and called a primary to elect its candidate, which was when Mausoom announced his endorsement of President Solih.
When the JP decided to contest separately, some members in government posts on JP slots resigned from the party. But Mausoom remained in the JP.
Mausoom told Adhadhu after leaving the JP on Monday that he stayed because he hoped the party would back President Solih despite the decision to contest separately.
“I supported [Solih] a long time ago. Then I hoped the JP would also join him. I worked on it as well. A meeting was held very recently too,” Mausoom said.
Dr. Mausoom left the JP yesterday after the party’s leader submitted his candidacy for the presidential election.
“It won’t be appropriate to have JP membership when I’m going fully with [Solih],” said Mausoom, adding that he would redouble campaign efforts.
In a tweet announcing his resignation from the JP, Dr. Mausoom shared a photo from when he signed for the JP in 2014 and thanked the party’s members.
