Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Mohamed Muizzu on being elected as the new President of Maldives. “Congratulations and greetings to @MMuizzu on being elected as President of the Maldives,” Modi wrote in a post on X. The pro-China candidate led the counting with 54 per cent of votes while outgoing President Mohamed Solih, who conceded defeat had secured 46 per cent votes, as per reports.
“India remains committed to strengthening the time-tested India-Maldives bilateral relationship and enhancing our overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region,” said PM Modi.
While Soleh championed “India First” policy with focus on strengthening relations with India — the island nation's influential neighbour —Muizzu rode the victory on "India out" campaign. The coalition supporting Muizzu’s Progressive Party of Maldives pledged to remove a small Indian military presence including several surveillance aircraft and around 75 personnel, Reuters reported.
Muizzu entered politics with the backing of former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, who is also known for his pro-China stance. Yameen was disqualified from contesting the Presidential polls by the Supreme Court in August due to a conviction for corruption and money laundering.
Following the announcement of the projected results, supporters of both Yameen and Muizzu gathered outside the main Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) office in the capital, Male as the celebrations were charged with the chants of "free President Yameen".
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Solih acknowledged the results and congratulated his successor. "Congratulations to the winner of the presidential election @MMuizzu. Thank you for the beautiful democratic example shown by the people in the elections. Thank you to the MDP and AP members who worked together and to all the people who voted for me," Solih posted on X.
The Maldives presidential election saw thousands of voters turning out early at 586 polling stations scattered across the nation's 187 islands. In addition to domestic polling stations, Maldivians cast their votes at polling stations located in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Britain, and Abu Dhabi.