‘Relations Historical, Will Continue To Engage’: India Congratulates Maldives On Successful Polls

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu earlier said he wants to strengthen the Maldivian military and upgradation of the Maldivian military should not worry any nation. (Image: Reuters)

The External Affairs Ministry on Thursday congratulated Maldives for conducting successful parliamentary elections. The MEA said India and Maldives have historical ties and that the nation will continue to engage.

“We have a historical relationship with Maldives. We congratulate the Maldives for conducting successful parliamentary elections. We will continue to have engagement with them,” the MEA said in a statement.

President Mohamed Muizzu and his People’s National Congress on Wednesday further consolidated their position in Parliament with six independent candidates, elected in Sunday’s polls, joining the ruling party. The pro-China Maldivian president led the People’s National Congress (PNC) to win a landslide 66 out of 93 seats in parliament and its coalition partners Maldives National Party (MNP) and Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) won one and two seats, respectively.

The six independent members joined the PNC at a function attended by President Muizzu, who is also the President of the party. With the addition of the six independents, the PNC-led coalition now has the super majority in parliament with 78 seats, much more than two-thirds (63 seats) in the People’s Majlis.

The PNC’s “super majority” in parliamentary elections is being seen as a strong endorsement of his pro-Beijing foreign policy, as both India and China closely watched the outcome of the polls in the strategically-located archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean. According to the news portal Sun.mv, a spokesperson from the PNC confirmed on Wednesday that six independent candidates joined the PNC on Tuesday.

The new lawmakers to the 20th parliamentary assembly will be sworn in on May 28. A majority in Parliament would mean that Muizzu’s party has control not just over lawmaking but also over the legislature which ratifies the laws; which till now had two opposing coalitions and saw several instances of a conflict between the government and the legislature.

Muizzu, 45, rode to power last year on the India Out’ plank and since assuming office in November 2023. Ahead of the parliamentary elections, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), led by pro-India former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had advocated restoring ties with India. The MDP, however, won only 15 seats.

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