
The atoll nation has a population of about five lakh people, with over 2,82,000 registered voters across some 180 islands. In the September 9 election, a total of 2,25,486 votes were polled.
Former president Mohamed Nasheed, who split from the Maldivian Democratic Party of which he was a founder-leader after a bitter falling out with President Solih, floated a new party called the Democrats and fielded his candidate. This candidate received the third highest vote share of about 7.18 per cent, the difference between the first and second candidates.
Emerging as the king-maker, Nasheed has hinted at backing Muizzu's candidature in the second round. This is a U-turn for Nasheed in more than one respect. Muizzu is backed by former president Abdulla Yameen, a key figure behind Nasheed's 2012 ouster as president, now serving an 11-year jail term for corruption and ineligible to contest.
More significantly, Muizzu is reportedly also backed by a prominent Salafist NGO, Jamiyyathul Salaf. Maldives, a Sunni Muslim country of about 500,000 population, has seen religious extremism take root in the last two decades. Though the number of 250 is an estimate, more men and women from the Maldives are reported to have joined ISIS than from any other country.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 13, 2023 من The Morning Standard.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 13, 2023 من The Morning Standard.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول

₹Notable development': EAM says after meeting China FM
THERE have been \"notable developments\" in the India-China relationship since November 2024, including the management of peace and tranquility in the border areas, as well as other aspects of the relationship, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said during his meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as both neighbours work to normalise ties.

Schopman wins battle of coaches as Germany women sink India
Like the city has tended to do over the last few days, the blazing afternoon sun had given way to threatening storm clouds on Friday evening. Just then the respective India-Germany women's teams lined up for the anthems; some of the scribes sought the comfort of the media centre as droplets of water began falling on the media tribune, a place inside the ground where journalists sit and file in real-time.

CM junks AAP's 'broken promise' claim
CHIEF Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday dismissed AAP's allegations of \"breaking promises\" over the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, asserting that the party had no right to question her government.
Over 1k Kids Take Part in MCD's Divyang Mahotsav
THE MCD's Education Department on Friday kickstarted its first Divyang Mahotsav at Dr. Sahib Singh Verma Stadium in Kakraula.
Power to change SC list rests with Parliament
THE Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation seeking inclusion of the Are-Katika (Khatik) community in the Scheduled Castes category across the country and said that only Parliament has the power to do so.
Cong questions govt on deportation of Indians to Latin American nations
THE Congress on Thursday raised concerns over the deportation of 50 Indian nationals to Panama from the United States as part of the Trump administration's measures against illegal immigrants.
New govt terminates staff of ex-CM Atishi, former AAP ministers
THE Delhi government's Services Department has terminated the appointments of staff working under former Chief Minister (CM) Atishi and other ministers of the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
Fin inclusion not just a/c opening; engagement is key
THOUGH as much as 80% of the adult population have bank accounts now, thanks to the Jan Dhan Yojana or no-frills accounts, meaningful use of these accounts remains a challenge, said RBI deputy governor M Rajeshwar Rao on Friday.
Curious case of 42 'missing' for 15 yrs
ABOUT 40 youths from Punjab - among the 102 from India who left for the US via 'dunky route' in 2010- have been missing for the last 15 years.

Crowd control: Work on 'permanent holding areas' at 60 stns fast-tracked
THE Ministry of Railways has instructed Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) to design \"permanent holding areas\" (PHAS) at 60 stations nationwide to prevent stampedes similar to the one at New Delhi station recently, and according priority to stations in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where sudden crowd surges toward Prayagraj are expected closer to Mahashivratri on February 26.