Former MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has withdrawn from the “Big Change” group, saying the original objective of the group — spearheaded by former President Mohamed Nasheed to transform the Maldives’ system of governance into a parliamentary one — has been lost.

Fayyaz had joined the group under an agreement that he would contest the presidential race, after which Nasheed would take up the position of Prime Minister. However, Nasheed’s supporters have recently been vocal, including within the group’s WhatsApp chat, insisting that it should be Nasheed who contests the presidential election.

Responding indirectly to Nasheed, Fayyaz said that the opportunity to contest the presidential race through the MDP primary is open to anyone, and that those who wish to run should do so through that route.

Alongside Fayyaz, former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former party President Abdulla Shahid have also decided to contest the MDP presidential primary, intensifying the competition for the party’s ticket to an unprecedented level.