DRP leadership is not something which Gayyoom gave on a tray- Thasmeen

Main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Leader, Ahmed Thasmeen Ali has said that the party’s leadership was not something which the Honorary Leader Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom gave to Thasmeen on a tray.

Thasmeen said that he won the election held among the four elected Deputy Leaders of the party at the first National Congress of DRP without any help from Former President Gayyoom. He also said that he was appointed as the Vice Presidential candidate of DRP for the 2008 Presidential Election with the majority of the Party’s council voting in favour of him.

Thasmeen further said that the Honorary Leader of DRP, Gayyoom expressed his commendation on Thasmeen for the leadership of the party not so long ago in the last congress of DRP.

“There was no other candidate who ran in the election for DRP leadership so how can Gayyoom’s raising of his hand in favour of me, the only candidate, be considered that the leadership was something Gayyoom gave to me on a tray?,” he queried.

Thasmeen said that it is very saddening that Gayyoom is now such allegations. He said that he does not believe that Gayyoom would make such lowly statements regarding him if the Honorary Leader was sincere in rectifying the internal problems within the party.