A former Tonga cabinet minister, Isileli Pulu, who is running as an independent in this month's election, says he is continuing to support the policies of the Democratic Party.
Mr Pulu is one of several high profile candidates dumped by the Akilisi Pohiva-led party but standing again.
In his Tongatapu 4 constituency he faces eight others, including the endorsed candidate of his old party, the journalist Mateni Tapueluelu.
Mr Pulu says he sees no problem in both of them standing and promoting the same policies, such as trying to reduce government spending.
Prime Minister's office, Tonga Photo: Supplied
"We are supposed to be one team, instead of two, so they are going around to villages as a group, as the team. So we can't do the same as them so we have to find a way out, independently. We just approach all our constituencies - I don't think there is going to be any problem with that."