India keeps a close watch as Maldives votes to elect a new Parliament
Maldives voted on Sunday to elect a new Parliament as a MDP victory in the House will enable it to keep a check on the Muizzu’s administration’s steps impacting New Delhi’s interests in the region.
As many as 368 candidates are contesting on 93 seats in the parliamentary election
MDP had a majority in the last Parliament. China is also keeping a close watch on the elections. This month, President Md Muizzu awarded high-profile infrastructure contracts to Chinese state-owned companies including airport redevelopment plan as campaigning for the parliamentary elections was in full swing.
Since Muizzu came to office, MPs in the last Parliament blocked three of his nominees to the cabinet and refused some of his spending proposals. Muizzu's prospects this week received a fillip with the release of his mentor Yameen from house arrest this week.
In January, Muizzu asked India to withdraw all Indian military personnel deployed in the Indian Ocean archipelago. Following high-level meetings between the two countries, India has replaced military personnel with civilians to run the platforms.
On the eve of election, Muizzu urged voters to grant his coalition a majority in parliament to protect the country’s independence even as Male is seeking daily use items and tourists from India.
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