• Source:PTI
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Male Mayoral Poll: Amid growing tension between India and Maldives over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Lakshadweep visit, the pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday secured a landslide victory in the capital Male's Mayoral election, which came as a huge setback for Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

Adam Azim, the MDP candidate, has been elected as the next mayor of Male, a post held by Muizzu till recently. Muizzu resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year. Azim's victory was described as a "landslide" and a "victory by a large margin", news agency PTI reported citing the Maldivian media.

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The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections. With 5,303 votes, Azim has taken a huge lead after 41 boxes have been counted. While his rival Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzu's People's National Congress (PNC) got 3,301 votes.

The Mayoral polls were held in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by ministers of the Muizzu government against PM Modi leading to a diplomatic row with India. During his high-profile visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Muizzu returned to Male on Saturday after a five-day state visit to China.

The debate over Lakshadweep vs Maldives began after several Maldivian ministers inclduing Mariyam Shiuna made disrespectful remarks against PM Modi over his Lakshadweep visit. Since then there has been furore among Indians and many people shared posts on social media cancelling their planned holidays to the island nation.

In the face of the online furore, the Maldivian government suspended three ministers and distanced itself from the remarks against PM Modi. Maldivian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer, said such remarks against foreign leaders are 'unacceptable' and do not reflect the government's official position.