Yameen defeated in Maldives, India welcomes poll results

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 24

India has welcomed the results of the Sunday elections in the island nation of Maldives. Joint opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, also the brother-in-law of exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed, polled in nearly 58 per cent of the almost 90 per cent votes cast in the elections. 

Incumbent President Abdulla Yameen was defeated and later accepted it in a televised speech after a meeting with Solih in Male.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled and congratulated President-elect Solih later today,

“The prime minister also conveyed his good wishes for the strengthening of democracy, peace and prosperity in Maldives under the leadership of Solih,’ said the government statement.

India was among the first foreign countries to welcome the election results, calling it a “triumph of democratic forces in the Maldives” in a statement released early this morning..

“The United States congratulates the people of Maldives, who peacefully raised their democratic voices to determine the future of their country,” said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

South Block is relieved with the results amid deep concerns expressed by US, EU, India and other countries about muzzling of democratic institutions by Yameen and fairness of polls in the run up.

Sources say New Delhi’s policy of ‘waiting it out’ and not flexing military muscles despite demands from certain sections of opposition Maldivian parties when Yameen clamped emergency in February, was a sensible one in hindsight.

As of now Delhi along with Beijing, which is yet to react to results, will watch closely the internal power transition process with Yameen expected to leave office on 17th November.

“Ibrahim Solih is a quiet person. He knows social-cultural ethos of Maldivian people inside outside . He does not speak out of turn and will be likely happy to take ‘guidance’ from India in ‘spirit of friendship and cooperation’,” said a senior official.

Conceding defeat, Yameen, who jailed top leaders and judges including his half-brother and former dictator Gayoom in his controversial term, said, “The citizens of Maldives had their say yesterday. I accept that result.I have served the Maldivian public sincerely.”

Of importance for New Delhi will be normalising people-to-people ties which took a hit when Indian professionals were denied work visas by Maldivian companies at behest of the government last few months.

The matter of return of two Advanced Light Helicopters gifted by India and Yameen’s close ties with Beijing became an irritant in ties.

While Delhi expects Solih to go in for course correction, a complete recalibration with Beijing is realistically not expected.

“A certain substantial amount of cooperation will go on with China even under the new government in Male. But we should really see that our interests our protected and strengthened instead of getting rattled about Beijing,” said a senior diplomat.

Also on the cards will be a possible visit by PM Modi after the power transition to Maldives, the only neighbouring country he has so far not visited citing citing internal political turbulence.

“The two leaders agreed to work closely together to further strengthen the close, friendly and good neighbourly relations between the two countries,” added the official Indian statement.

Meanwhile, former President Nasheed who observed the elections from Colombo announced he would attend the oath-taking ceremony of Solih.