MDP member claims hundreds of concerns raised over council election counts

Individuals within the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) are calling for fresh voting and recounts within some constituencies contested during last week’s local council elections due to claims that almost a thousand concerns have been raised over how polling was conducted in certain areas, according to news reports.

Miadhu today reported that MDP member Mohamed Imthiyaz has claimed that there are hundreds of issues relating to alleged discrepancies and inconsistencies in the voter registry and ballot papers used during voting. The report also alleged that the MDP had raised concerns over the “integrity” of the Elections Commission (EC) that oversaw the council polling.

In light of these alleged concerns, Imithiyaz was reported to have claimed that the party would now be calling for either vote recounts or fresh polling in certain constituencies.
However, criticisms over election campaigning have also been leveled at the governing party.

Rival opposition groups such as the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and the People’s Alliance (PA) have attacked the MDP over allegations that it had used state funds to support its election campaigning as well as claims that the party had awarded itself disproportionate amounts of coverage to promote candidates on state television.