A celebratory gathering of the Maldivian Democratic Party following its strong showing in the Local Council Elections was overshadowed by the notable absence of former president Mohamed Nasheed.

Nasheed, who had been expected to address supporters, did not attend the event after his name was removed from the speakers’ list, according to sources close to him. The agenda had initially included him as a speaker, but was later revised, with his name omitted. A seat reserved for him at the start of the event remained empty before eventually being taken away.

The stage instead featured party leadership and newly elected figures, including MDP President Abdulla Shahid, Chairperson Abdul Gafooru Moosa, five victorious mayoral candidates, and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) representatives from the five cities.

The development comes amid growing tensions within the party’s ranks. Just 24 hours before the event, supporters of Nasheed and MDP activists aligned with former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih exchanged heated words on social media over the significance of Nasheed’s return to the party.

Allies of Solih have argued that the MDP’s electoral success — securing more than 42 percent of council seats nationwide — was not linked to Nasheed’s re-entry. Meanwhile, Nasheed’s supporters maintain that his return played a decisive role in energising the party’s base and contributing to the victory.

While the MDP’s electoral gains have reinforced its position in local governance, the episode at the celebration highlights underlying divisions that continue to shape the party’s internal dynamics.