Maldives Opposition reaches out to India |
As another round of political instability grips Maldives, a united and reinvigorated opposition has again reached out to India saying it will, if voted to power, review contracts given by the President Abdulla Yameen government to the Chinese. Former president Mohammed Nasheed, who is living in exile but has announced that he`ll contest the polls next year, said that the opposition reserves the right to terminate all illegal contracts. Earlier, Nasheed had said that India had a moral obligation to ensure free and fair polls in Maldives next year. Opposition parties in the country, led by Nasheed`s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), continue to maintain that India has not done enough to strengthen democratic forces in the country.? With Yameen leveraging China`s growing presence in the region, there was a compelling strategic imperative for India to engage his government. However, with 4 opposition parties coming together and even former dictator and Yameen`s half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom joining hands with Nasheed, this may be just the right time for India to consider putting pressure on Yameen to ensure timely and fair polls in the country next year. Yameen`s position appears increasingly shaky with even some MPs from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) ?looking to join the breakaway faction of that party headed by Gayoom.
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