Solih’s win in primary ahead of Maldives Presidential polls shot in arm for India

In a shot in arm for India Maldives President Ibu Solih has won the primary of ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) enabling him to contest next Presidential polls scheduled in September.

Solih defeated Mohamed Nasheed, the parliament speaker and a former president, in the Maldivian Democratic Party primary held Saturday night.


Since being elected, Solih has largely stabilized the nation. Compared to his predecessor’s tenure India-Maldives ties have achieved several milestones since Solih became President in 2018 with New Delhi rolling out assistance for several development projects. Maldives is a key pillar of New Delhi’s Indian Ocean Region policy amid China’s growing interests in the region.

However, experts on India’s Southern neighbourhood feel that as Maldives politics is highly contested Solih needs additional political support to have a comfortable win in September presidential polls.

Nasheed was elected president in the country's first multiparty election in 2008 but resigned in 2012 amid public protests. He contested for presidency again in 2013 and lost, and became disqualified for the race five years later.

Solih is the only one running for president so far. His main rival, former President Abdulla Yameen, is serving a prison term on charges of corruption and money laundering.

MDP 's Chairperson, Fayyaz Ismail, has called on Nasheed, to reconsider his views following the outcome of the party's presidential primary. Solih received 61 percent with 24,572 votes, against Nasheed's 15,631 votes -- 39 percent.

While appreciating the deep-rooted, long-standing, and close linkages between the people of India and Maldives, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar during his visit to Maldives earlier this month joined Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Wednesday at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Hanimaadhoo international airport project. Hanimaadhoo International Airport is a large investment in the Northern Maldives which will help the region in expanding travel for purposes like business, and medical and further intensify people-to-people exchanges.

During the visit Jaishankar emphasized that India and the Maldives are good neighbours and strong partners as he underlined that the two countries also together have a responsibility for peace and security in the region.