Maldives votes in parliamentary elections amid India-China rivalry
Al Jazeera
President Mohamed Muizzu’s moves to increasingly shift away from New Delhi has caused tension.
Maldives is holding parliamentary elections in a ballot crucial for President Mohamed Muizzu, who has turned the archipelago nation away from longtime ally India since coming to power last September.
Sunday’s elections are keenly watched by India and China as they vie for influence in the island country, which is known for its pristine beaches and luxury resorts and is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, where global east-west shipping lanes pass through.
The rivalry between India and China sharpened following Muizzu’s election last September, with the new leader taking a pro-China stand and acting to remove Indian troops stationed on one of the country’s islets.
About 284,000 people were eligible to vote on Sunday, and tentative results are expected later the same day.
Six political parties and independent groups are fielding 368 candidates for 93 seats in Parliament. Splits in all the main political parties, including Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC), are expected to make it hard for any single party to win an outright majority.
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