Wake-up call for India: Victory of pro-China candidate in Maldives is a wake-up call for India
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Mohamed Muizzu after he won the Maldives presidential election Sunday.
Mohamed Muizzu, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)-People’s National Congress (PNC) coalition candidate has been elected the President of Maldives. Muizzu defeated incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was known for being close to India. The 45-year-old Muizzu won 54.06 per cent of the vote in the run-off contest.
Solih, 61, will continue as caretaker president till Muizzu takes charge on November 17.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Muizzu on being elected President.
India-Maldives Relations: India has decided to “soon” reach out to the new dispensation in Maldives as pro-China candidate Mohamed Muizzu emerged victorious this Sunday in the presidential polls, neatly defeating his predecessor and pro-India Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, ABP LIVE has learnt.
Much to New Delhi’s security concerns, Muizzu’s presidential campaign has been hooked on anti-India sloganeering and messages. He leads a party that had obtained large scale loans from China when they were in power previously. It was his party, then helmed by President Abdulla Yameen, that gave an entry to China’s Belt and Road Initiative into the Indian Ocean island nation.
New Delhi, which has been investing heavily in the strategically located atoll since 2018 when Solih came to power, has activated all its back-channels and diplomatic channels to establish a working relationship with Muizzu, top sources told ABP LIVE.
The results have indeed come as a shock to India that was almost sure that Solih will be coming to power with his ‘India first’ policy. India had taken centre stage this time during the presidential elections in Maldives.
As the elections results came in, Muizzu told reporters in Male: “Today, the people made a strong decision to win back Maldives independence.” He was seen to be indirectly referring to India’s growing influence in that country and the purported presence of its military.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Muizzu. “India remains committed to strengthening the time-tested India-Maldives bilateral relationship and enhancing overall cooperation in the Indian Ocean region,” he said.
Maldives will seek greater economic engagements from other countries.
“India needs to play its cards well. New Delhi must continue to focus on Maldives. Irrespective of the election outcome, one of the ways to build stronger and long-term ties with Maldives is by boosting connectivity,” Dhanuraj D, Chairman, Centre for Public Policy Research, told India Narrative.
Dhanuraj added that people-to-people contact must be increased between the two countries for sustained ties.
“India must also continue with its financial assistance to the nation and stick to timely and professional execution of infrastructure projects,” he said, adding that the archipelago must be brought in India’s tourism strategy by creating a circuit much like Sri Lanka.
“While the government-to-government dealings have been on, it is time India also focuses on improving people-to-people contact,” Dhanuraj said, adding that the trust deficit, which exists in the island nation towards India, must be worked on.
Maldives is not only India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), it occupies a special place in Modi’s vision of SAGAR or ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
(With Inputs From Agencies)