Mohamed Muizzu’s election as president last year sharpened the rivalry between India and China, with the new leader taking a pro-China stand and acting to remove Indian troops stationed on one of the country’s islets
AMN / WEB DESK
VOTING for the People’s Majlis, which is the Parliament in the Maldives, are underway. In the fourth multiparty parliamentary election, the archipelago nation will elect representatives from out of 368 candidates across 93 constituencies.
As the Met department predicts a rainy day in Male, over 2.8 lakh voters will exercise their franchise at 602 polling stations, including three polling stations abroad. The polls are being seen as a crucial litmus test for the incumbent President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s party, which has been under fire by the opposition for its policies.
Further, the breakaway faction of former President Yameen is being seen to split votes among the ruling alliance. Dr. Muizzu’s PPM-PNC coalition won the presidential elections in September 2023, riding on an India Out campaign. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party held the majority in the previous parliament with 44 lawmakers.
