Nine Democrats’ candidates contest local council elections

Nine candidates are contesting the upcoming local council elections on behalf of the Democrats, confirms the party.

Candidacy for the Democrats’ ticket for the April 4 elections had been open from January 18-31.

Shujau Ali, the president of V. Atoll Council and candidate for V. Thinadhoo Council presidency, told Sun on Saturday night that total nine candidates are contesting the upcoming elections on behalf of the party.

According to Shujau, the candidates are contesting for council seats in R. Atoll, Lh. Atoll, V. Atoll and M. Atoll.

The Democrats was founded in 2023 out of a rivalry between then-President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and former President Mohamed Nasheed as it drew closer to the 2023 presidential election, especially after the latter lost the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) presidential ticket to the former in January that year.

The rivalry between them created a rift within the MDP, culminating into Nasheed and those loyal to him leaving the party in June 2023, to form the Democrats.

But in June 2025, Democrats passed a resolution agreeing that all members will rejoin the MDP, citing that they believe “a strong opposition is the best way to win the local council election, improve Maldives’ future, uphold an accountable state, and restore the waning faith in a competitive multi-party system.”

Those who rejoined the MDP include Nasheed, who famously declared that he would “dismantle” the MDP, after he founded the Democrats.

The Democrats has seen its membership dwindle to 2,952 since then.