President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih says it is important to learn how to remain in power as well as come into power.
He made the comments at a community gathering in Haa Alifu Maarendhoo during his visit to the northern atolls for a campaign trip.
Pointing out that MDP's power has increased over the years, President Solih said that in the 2008 Presidential election, MDP received only 17 votes from the island but in the last election it received 58 percent of the island's votes.
He said that he was confident that the votes would double this year as the residents of the island are now confident that his administration can fulfill its pledges.
The President also highlighted that previous administrations have neglected the islands and only carried out projects hastily without any planning with elections around the corner.
President Solih noted that under former President Abdullah Yameen's regime, island health centers were changed to hospitals just by changing name boards and that they were changed to 24-hour service centers without recruiting additional staff.
He added that this government has been fulfilling its pledges systematically.
President Solih said that the political landscape has changed and that in previous elections MDP always competed to overturn a government but that this time around it is striving to retain power.
