Maldives' run-off presidential poll tomorrow; why India, China will keep close watch

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geopolitics into the centrestage of their electoral campaigns. While incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has strengthened the country's bonhomie with New Delhi in his five-year tenure so far, the opposition camp led by rival presidential candidate Mohamed Muizzu have sharpened their anti-India rhetoric, and hinted at restoring the strong pro-Beijing ties that existed between 2013 and 2018.

Solih, who heads the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), had secured 39 percent votes in the first round of polls held on September 9. Muizzu, a former mayor of capital Male who now heads the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), had bagged 46 percent of the electoral share.

Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Since neither of the candidates could cross the 50 percent-mark, a runoff poll featuring only Solih and Muizzu in the contest was scheduled for September 30.

Although the latter had a 7 percentage point lead over the sitting president, experts said that the contest will be extremely close as Maldives has only 283,000 eligible voters, and the two leaders were separated by only 15,000 votes in the first round. Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen had, during his tenure from 2013-2018, took a step away from traditional benefactor India and steered the island-nation towards China.

Male become a member of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), signed a free trade agreement with it, and was reportedly exploring a security and strategic tie-up which could have given the Xi Jinping-led regime an edge in the region that is crucial for east-west maritime trade. Turning towards China meant a steady stream of foreign