The Local Government Authority (LGA) has instructed that the responsibilities of the President of Vaavu Atoll Thinadhoo Council be temporarily transferred to the Council’s Deputy President after Council President Shujaau Ali changed his political party affiliation.

Shujaau was elected President of Thinadhoo Council in the recent local council elections on the ticket of The Democrats. However, following the dissolution of the party due to insufficient membership, he later registered as a member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Under Article 116(h) of the Decentralisation Act, a councillor elected on the ticket of a political party loses their council seat if, during their term of office, they register as a member of another political party.

MMTV obtained a letter sent by LGA Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Nimal to Thinadhoo Council Deputy President Samir Ahmed regarding the matter. The letter states that the Elections Commission informed the LGA that Shujaau, who was elected as council president representing The Democrats, registered as an MDP member on 19 May after assuming office.

The LGA stated that, until its board reaches a final decision and issues further instructions, Shujaau must temporarily refrain from carrying out the duties of council president and should not report to the council office.

The authority also directed that the powers and responsibilities of the council president be assigned to the deputy president on an interim basis, in accordance with the relevant regulations, to ensure the continued functioning of the council.

The move comes as the LGA reviews the legal implications of Shujaau’s change of party membership under the Decentralisation Act.