New Delhi: In what could be a worrisome development for India, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s party scored a thumping victory in the island nation’s parliamentary election held on Sunday. Results showed a landslide victory with voters backing his tilt towards China and away from regional powerhouse and traditional benefactor India.
Muizzu’s People’s National Congress (PNC) had secured more than two-thirds of the 93-member parliament Majlis, according to provisional results from the Elections Commission of Maldives, NDTV reported.
The PNC had secured 66 out of 86 declared, already more than enough for a super-majority. The formal ratification of the results is expected to take a week and the new assembly is to be in office from early May.
This election was seen as a test for Muizzu’s plans to boost economic cooperation with China. Since taking over, the president has awarded major infrastructure contracts to Chinese state-owned companies. His party’s electoral victory is set to clear most obstacles for him.