A total of 236 candidates have so far filed nominations for the March 22 elections to Maldives' 85-seat parliament, media reported Tuesday citing the Elections Commission of the archipelago nation.
Ali Mohamed Manik, a member of the commission, Monday said the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had filed nominations for all the 85 seats of the People's Majlis, according to Haveeru Online.
Manik said the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) had filed nominations for only 37 seats, despite the party's announcement that it would contest from 50 constituencies.
The pro-government Jumhoory Party (JP) had filed 29 nominations.
The Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) had filed six nominations, the Adhaalath Party 11, and the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) five, Manik said.
According to the commission, 62 independent candidates had also filed their nominations.
Adhaalath party, a religious conservative party, has decided to run from 13 constituencies independently after the ruling coalition failed to meet their demand for more seats.
The deadline for filing nominations will expire at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
