As Island Nation Votes, Muizzu Faces Litmus Test With India, China Vying For Influence In Region

New Delhi: The Maldives on Sunday is conducting its fourth multi-party parliamentary election, being seen as a litmus test for President Mohamed Muizzu’s stance towards India and his perceived alignment with China.

With 368 candidates vying for 93 parliamentary seats, this election marks a pivotal moment in Muizzu’s tenure, characterised by a shift towards China since assuming office last September.

Here Are The Key Updates:

• Against the backdrop of its pristine beaches and luxury resorts, the Maldives finds itself at the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war between India and China, both keen on extending their influence over this strategically positioned island nation in the Indian Ocean. As global east-west shipping routes pass through the region, the outcome of Sunday’s election carries significant implications for regional dynamics.
• Approximately 2,84,000 eligible voters are participating in the polls, with tentative results anticipated later in the day.
• “Geopolitics is very much in the background as the parties campaign for votes in Sunday’s election. He came to power on a promise to send back Indian troops and he is working on it. The parliament has not been cooperating with him since he came to power,” news agency AFP quoted a senior aide of Muizzu as saying.
• Muizzu’s presidency, initially perceived as a continuation of his pro-China predecessor Abdulla Yameen’s policies, has witnessed a notable departure from pro-India approaches, raising concerns in New Delhi.
• Since Muizzu assumed the presidency, tensions have flared between him and Yameen, resulting in a rift between the two, in response to which the latter formed a party known as the People’s National Front, which, too is taking part in the elections.
• The Maldives, known for its exquisite natural beauty, emerged as a geopolitical hotspot in recent times, marked by the expulsion of Indian military personnel and the awarding of key infrastructure contracts to Chinese state-owned enterprises.
• Tensions further escalated following disparaging remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visit to Lakshadweep, prompting a diplomatic fallout between the two nations.
• Although the Maldivian government swiftly distanced itself from the derogatory comments and took disciplinary action against three ministers involved, the incident underscored the deepening rift between Male and New Delhi.