Maldives gears up for presidential elections

Eighteen months after its first democratically elected President Mohamed Nasheed stepped down, Maldives will go to polls today, under the watchful eyes of 102 international observers which include a high-level team of former election commissioners from India.

Official sources said that preparations for the elections have so far been satisfactory but the real test will be tomorrow when polling begins in the 1192-island nation, which has witnessed a series of unsettling political events since Nasheed’s resignation in February 2012.

Over 2,229 local observers, 102 international observers, 1,343 representatives of political parties besides 1,642 local and 225 international journalists are keeping a hawk’s eye on the developments in this young multi-party democracy.

Over 2.39 lakh voters would cast their franchise to elect new president from among four candidates - incumbent Mohamed Waheed, former President and Maldivian Democratic Party candidate Nasheed, brother of ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Progressive Party of Maldives candidate Abdulla Yameen and Jumhooree Party candidate tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.