Maldives: Big blow for President Muizzu as pro-India party wins Male mayor elections

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu suffered a serious blow when the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which supports India, won handily in the capital city of Male’s municipal election amid strained diplomatic relations with that country. MDP candidate Adam Azim has been elected as the next mayor of Male; Muizzu had held the position until recently. Muizzu had resigned from the post to run for president last year. Azim’s victory was described as a “landslide” and a “victory by a large margin” by the Maldivian media. Former president and pro-Indian Muhammad Solih, who lost the presidential election to pro-China Muizzu, is the head of the MDP. With 5,303 votes, Azim has a commanding lead after 41 boxes have been counted. 3,301 votes were cast for his opponent, Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC), according to the Maldives news portal Sun Online. Reports state that there was a minimal turnout for the Saturday poll. The MDP, which still has a majority in the Parliament, is predicted to see a boost in its political fortunes following its victory in the mayoral race. A diplomatic spat with India erupted after three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government posted disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, setting the stage for the mayoral elections. Muizzu aimed to bring the Maldives closer to Beijing during his well-publicized tour to China. The three ministers were suspended by Muizzu following their social media posts that caused an uproar in India and prompted calls for a boycott by the country’s tourists, who were second only to Russians in terms of quantity. Chinese visitors came in third. (With agency inputs)