Maldives’ main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) party is set to win a clear majority in Parliament, media reports said on Sunday after over 200,000 Maldivians voted in the parliamentary elections for 93 assembly seats.
The ruling party’s candidates ran for 90 seats. Preliminary results show the PNC won the majority of votes, Sun Online publication reported. Maldivians voted in a ballot crucial for President Mohamed Muizzu, whose policies are keenly watched by India.
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. Six political parties and independent groups had fielded 368 candidates for 93 seats in Parliament.
Muizzu’s election campaign theme for president was “India out,” accusing his predecessor of compromising national sovereignty by giving India too much influence. At least 75 Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives and their known activities were operating two aircraft donated by India and assisting in the rescue of people stranded or faced with calamities at sea. Muizzu has taken steps to have civilians take over those activities.
Relations strained further when Indian social media activists started a boycott campaign of Maldives tourism. That was in retaliation for three Maldivian deputy ministers making derogatory statements about Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the idea of promoting tourism in Lakshadweep, India’s own string of islands similar to the Maldives.
According to recent Maldives government statistics, the number of Indian tourists has fallen, dropping that country from being the top source of foreign visitors to No. 6. Muizzu visited China earlier this year and negotiated an increase in the number of tourists and inbound flights from China.
(With agency inputs)
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