Voting for parliamentary elections has begun across Maldives. Voting began at 0800 hours on Saturday.
The parliamentary elections is contested by 10 political parties. The main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) decided to contest for 86 constituencies. However, 1 candidates withdrew his candidacy before the election. Therefore, MDP is contesting for 85 constituencies. Parties in the ruling coalition, Jumhooree Party, Adhalaath Party and Maumoon Reform Movement (MRM) decided to contest for 41 constituencies, 9 constituencies and 20 constituencies respectively.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Alliance (PNC), are contesting for 47 constituencies. Moreover, Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) will contest for 8 constituencies and Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) will contest for 5 constituencies. The newly formed Maldives Third-Way Democrats (MTD) is contesting for 8 constituencies and Maldives Labour and Social Democratic Party (MLSDP) is contesting for 10 constituencies.
Elections Commission of Maldives (ECM) has placed 501 ballot boxes. The parliamentary elections will elect parliamentarians for 87 constituencies. 264,589 people are eligible to vote in the parliamentary elections. The election is contested by 389 candidates. 31 women and 358 men are running for 87 seats, including 175 candidates are contesting individually, according to ECM.