Bengaluru: All the seven candidates in the fray for the biennial election to Karnataka legislative council, elected by the members of the legislative assembly, were on Friday declared as elected "unopposed". The declaration paved the way for the Bharatiya Janata Party to gain a majority in the Upper House as four out of the seven new members are from the ruling party, two from Congress and Janata Dal-Secular one. The polls for seven seats were scheduled to be held on June 3, but on Friday, the last day to withdraw nominations, only seven candidates were in the fray and all of them were declared elected "unopposed", the returning officer for MLC polls and secretary, Karnataka legislative assembly, MK Vishalakshi, said.The seven candidates declared elected include the BJP's vice-president and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi, the party's state secretaries Hemalatha Nayak and S Keshavaprasad, and president of SC Morcha Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.Congress's M Nagaraju Yadav, former chairman of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, and K Abdul Jabbar, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee's minority cell and a former MLC; and Janata Dal-Secular's&nbsp;T A Saravana, a former MLC, were elected in the other three seats.The election was necessitated as the term of office of seven members expires on June 14.The seats will be falling vacant due to the retirement of MLCs -- Laxman Savadi and Lahar Singh Siroya of BJP; Ramappa Timmapur, Allum Veerabhadrappa, Veena Achaiah S of Congress; and H M Ramesha Gowda and Narayana Swamy KV of JD-S.According to official sources, in case election was to be held, each MLC candidate would require a minimum of 29 votes to win.Based on the strength of each party in the legislative assembly, the BJP can win four seats, Congress two, and JD-S one.With the election of four BJP candidates, the ruling party will now have a majority in the legislative council until June 15, as numbers may alter thereafter, because results will be declared that day for the June 13 polls to four MLC seats -- two teachers' and two graduates' constituencies.Before the election outcome for the seven seats was declared, the BJP had 37 members in the 75-member upper house, just one short of a simple majority.While the Congress had a strength of 26 members, the JD-S had 10 members. There is also one independent member, with the chairman making it 75.—PTI

All the seven candidates in the fray for the biennial election to Karnataka legislative council, elected by the members of the legislative assembly, were on Friday declared as elected "unopposed".

BJP gets majority in K'taka legislative council as 7 elected 'unopposed'

Panaji: Goa Forward Party President and MLA Vijai Sardesai has alleged that BJP in Goa is ‘manufacturing majority’ and hijacking mandate, and has questioned whether they can erase the fact that 67 per cent people had voted against them in the assembly election.
Reacting to the claim of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that BJP has won more than 150 Panchayats in the state, Sardesai said that they are lifting panch members and making them stand for photos to show the majority.
“He is manufacturing majority. He has cheated the OBC community over reservation. He has cheated the panchs of giving them power under 73rd constitutional amendment. Now he is lifting panchs making them stand for photographs with respected legislators and he is manufacturing that figure,” Sardesai said.
“There is competition going on between Pramod Sawant and (Health Minister) Vishwajit Rane to show how many seats have been won by them in their respective constituencies. Has the Chief Minister become popular in just the last three months? Who had won with few votes. How did all his panchs win? People stay with power for development, but this doesn’t mean it is a yardstick of your popularity,” he said.
“If tomorrow election takes place, then everyone will know (the fact). It is a fact, that only 33 per cent people had voted BJP, and the rest 67 per cent were against them. Can he erase it? Can he?,” Sardesai questioned.
“They are lifting panchs, now they try to lift Congress MLAs. They were forcing them to betray voters on the same day they got elected. This is not democracy. It is hijacking of mandate,” Sardesai said.&nbsp;
—IANS

Goa Forward Party President and MLA Vijai Sardesai has alleged that BJP in Goa is ‘manufacturing majority’ and hijacking mandate, and has questioned whether they can erase the fact that 67 per cent people had voted against them in the assembly election.

 BJP manufacturing majority, hijacking mandate: Goa Forward Party

The Khalistan movement is the fight for a separate, sovereign Sikh state in present-day Punjab (in both India and Pakistan). The movement was crushed in India after Operation Blue Star (1984) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988), but it continues to generate sympathy and support among sections of the Sikh population, especially in Canada, the UK, and In the Sikh Diaspora in countries like Australia. Amritpal Singh, a follower of Sikh extremist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who has been propagating the idea of the Khalistan separatist movement in Punjab in the recent past, has managed to escape. The origins of the Khalistan movement are traced to India's independence and subsequent partition along religious lines. The Punjab province, which was divided between India and Pakistan, saw sectarian violence and gave rise to millions of refugees. The capital of the historic Sikh Empire, Lahore, as well as holy Sikh sites such as Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, moved to Pakistan. While the majority of Sikhs found themselves in India, they were a small minority (2% of the population) in the country. The political struggle for greater autonomy began with the Punjabi Suba movement for the creation of a Punjabi-speaking state. The States Reorganization Commission Report (1955) rejected this demand, but the state of Punjab was reorganized in 1966 (divided into Hindi-Hindu-majority Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, and Punjabi-Sikh-majority Punjab). The Punjabi Suba movement inspired the Akali Dal, which passed the Anandpur Sahib Resolution (1973), demanding autonomy (not secession from India) for the state of Punjab. The demand had gone global by 1971 – when an advertisement in the New York Times announced the birth of Khalistan. By the 1980s, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's appeal was causing trouble for the government. He and his followers (mostly from the lower rungs of the social ladder) were becoming increasingly violent. In 1982, with the support of the Akali Dal leadership, he launched a civil disobedience movement called the Dharam Yudh Morcha and took up residence inside the Golden Temple, directing demonstrations and clashes with the police. 
The Khalistan movement in India was crushed after Operation Blue Star (by the Indian Army in 1984 to flush out militants from the Golden Temple and neutralize Bhindranwale) and Operation Black Thunder (1986 and 1988). While the operations were successful in their objective, they seriously injured the Sikh community around the world (by desecrating the Golden Temple) and also intensified the demand for Khalistan. Large sections of the population turned against the extremists and India moved towards economic liberalization. Punjab has long been peaceful, but agitation persists among some Sikh communities abroad. Diaspora is mainly made up of people who do not want to live in India. These people also include many who remember the bad days of the 1980s and thus support for Khalistan remains strong there. The deep anger at Operation Blue Star and the desecration of the Golden Temple continues to resonate with some newer generations of Sikhs. Although Bhindranwale is seen as a martyr by many and the 1980s are remembered as dark times, this has not manifested in concerted political support for the Khalistan cause. There is a small minority that clings to the past, and that small minority is important not because of popular support, but because they are trying to maintain their political influence with various political parties from both the left and the right. The resurgence of the Khalistan movement is a threat to national security similar to the Kashmir and Northeast insurgency for national security and integrity. This could lead to a bleak future for Punjab, a poor law and order situation could deter investors from investing in Punjab, thus further deteriorating its economy and spilling over into the social and political spheres. The idea of creating a separate state for Sikhs has died in Punjab; however, it has attracted the attention of a large audience among the diaspora who have now settled in other countries for a long time and thus have lost their connection with India as their motherland. Which violates any international boundary, thus it is misused by separatists in Pakistan and other countries. The Khalistan issue has already hurt India-Canada relations and now India-UK tensions are on the rise due to the conduct of Referendum 2020 in these countries despite the Indian government's objection. The steps to be taken to root out Khalistan, have to keep concrete and recognize new challenges. It is essential to recognize the challenge presented by traditional stakeholders and new social media recruits.
Cooperation with foreign governments Indian security and intelligence forces need to cooperate with foreign governments to monitor anti-India activities by Khalistani forces and restrict their funding sources. With the increase in security efforts, the Government of India should step up security efforts to counter the increase in Khalistani social media activity since the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor. At the domestic level, Punjab and the central government and security forces should cooperate to improve the economic condition of the state to bring the state back on the path of development to promote economic and social development. 
Engagement with the Sikh diaspora Indian agencies, such as missions established in those countries, should engage with the Sikh diaspora diplomatically to counter the disinformation campaign being run by Khalistani organizations. Such engagement would facilitate a positive relationship between the Indian state and the Sikh diaspora. Indian security forces need to step up their preparedness to deal with the increase in drones being used to deliver weapons and drugs in Punjab. Along with Western countries, India should also not hold back from using diplomacy with Pakistan and work to extradite terrorists hiding in Pakistan. The violent Khalistani movement has disappeared; However, the idea of a separate Sikh nation i.e. Khalistan has not yet disappeared. -  Dr. Priyanka Saurabh / The Hawk

Amritpal Singh, a follower of Sikh extremist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who has been propagating the idea of the Khalistan separatist movement in Punjab.

The idea of Khalistan takes a new avatar.

New Delhi: On Tuesday, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) declared its intention to run in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would win a third consecutive term with a "huge majority" of the vote.
A coalition of 26 opposition parties met in Bengaluru on the same day the BJP's allies met to draught a resolution praising the country's progress and expressing confidence in Modi's leadership.
The opposition, according to the 39 parties represented at the NDA conference today, is experiencing an identity and relevance problem. "Today, the opposition is confused and disoriented," their resolution read.—Inputs from Agencies

On Tuesday, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) declared its intention to run in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and predicted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would win a third consecutive term with a "huge majority" of the vote.

Will win bigger mandate in 2024 Lok Sabha polls under PM Modi's leadership: NDA resolution

New Delhi: An exclusive nationwide survey conducted by CVoter reveals that a majority of the respondents want Bharat to be the name of the country.
The survey had a sample size of 3,350.
In contrast, less than one out of every 10 respondents thinks that India should be the name of the country.
Controversy over the issue was first sparked when the President of India used the term Bharat in an invitation sent for a banquet and dinner to mark the G20 Summit being organised in Delhi.
Traditionally, such invitations have used the term India.
Opposition parties which are part of the new INDIA bloc strongly criticised the ruling NDA regime for indulging in such acts to deviate attention from serious issues and also because it is allegedly rattled by growing opposition unity.
More controversy was triggered when the official itinerary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a visit to Indonesia for an ASEAN meet mentioned him as the Prime Minister of Bharat.
While 40 per cent of the respondents who identify themselves as supporters of the INDIA bloc support the idea of the country being called Bharat, two-third of NDA supporters share the same viewpoint.
Interestingly, nearly four out of every 10 respondents are of the opinion that both India and Bharat should be retained as interchangeable names for the country.
The Constitution refers to the country as “India, that is Bharat...”
Many countries in Asia and Africa have rested back to their old and traditional names by discarding the names given by colonial powers in the 19th and 20th century.
— IANS

An exclusive nationwide survey conducted by CVoter reveals that a majority of the respondents want Bharat 

Majority respondents want Bharat to be the country’s name

Thiruvananthapuram: On Monday at 10 a.m., Chandy Oommen walked into Kerala Legislative Assembly amid claps and took his oath as a legislator.  He took the oath in the name of God and after signing in the register, he walked up to the Speaker A.N.Shamseer and then shook hands with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and all those seated in the front row of the house.
Voting to Puthuppally election took place on September 5 after his father Oommen Chandy, who represented the constituency for a record 53 years starting from 1970, passed away on July 18.  And when votes was counted on September 8 Chandy Oommen won with a record breaking majority of 37,719 votes.  On Monday morning, he visited the local church and a temple, and then prayed before Chandy’s picture at his house and took blessings of his mother.  Now, all eyes are on his first speech and in all likelihood, it will come on Monday when the assembly decided to take up the adjournment motion moved by the Congress-led opposition, the explosive Solar scam case accused complaint that she was sexually exploited by Chandy, was dismissed by the CBI and Chandy has been exonerated.  CBI’s closure report in the case surfaced on Sunday giving the Congress a huge ammunition to take on the Vijayan government, which Congress feels was used to politically target him.
—IANS

On Monday at 10 a.m., Chandy Oommen walked into Kerala Legislative Assembly amid claps and took his oath as a legislator.

Chandy Oommen’s tryst with Puthuppally begins after 53 years of Oommen Chandy

On Monday at 10 a.m., Chandy Oommen walked into Kerala Legislative Assembly amid claps and took his oath as a legislator.


Islamabad: Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and leader of its largest party Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that independent candidates backed by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan are welcome to form a government if they can prove their majority in parliament.
If the Khan-backed independent candidates cannot do that, other parties will go ahead and form a government and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is talking to other groups to form a coalition, Sharif said.
—Reuters

Shehbaz Sharif welcomes Imran Khan-backed candidates; PML-N explores coalition options. Political developments in Pakistan's quest for a new government.

Shehbaz Sharif dares Independent candidates to show majority, form govt

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday alleged that five to six Congress MLAs were 'kidnapped' and whisked away by the CRPF and the Haryana Police.
The allegation was made hours after the polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat ended, amid concerns in the ruling Congress over cross-voting.  There was also a buzz that if the Congress nominee fails to make it to the Rajya Sabha, the BJP could move a no-trust motion against the Sukhu government in the state assembly.  A video surfaced online purportedly showing a small convoy of cars outside a guest house in Haryana's Panchkula. Congress MLA from Dharamshala Sudhir Sharma, an independent legislator and some BJP MLAs could be spotted in the clip.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/rajya-sabha-elections:-congress-wins-three-seats-bjp-bags-one-in-karnataka" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/rajya-sabha-elections:-congress-wins-three-seats-bjp-bags-one-in-karnataka</a>&nbsp;
In the 68-member state assembly, the Congress has a clear majority with 40 MLAs and the support of three independent MLAs. The opposition BJP has 25 MLAs.  The BJP is indulging in hooliganism which is not good for democracy, Sukhu told reporters here.  Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur is threatening the polling officers by coming to the counting hall time and again, he claimed.  When asked whether he would resign if some Congress MLAs will cross vote, Sukhu said, 'We have full majority...wait for the result of (Rajya Sabha poll)."
—PTI

Himachal CM Sukhu alleges kidnapping of Congress MLAs post-Rajya Sabha poll, hinting at BJP's move for a no-trust motion.

Five to six Congress MLAs 'kidnapped', whisked away by CRPF and Haryana Police: Himachal CM Sukhu

Islamabad: Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he comfortably won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament.
Shehbaz, 72, who was the consensus candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), received 201 votes in the 336-member house.  Shehbaz's challenger Omar Ayub Khan of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes.  The session of the new parliament convened amid ruckus and sloganeering by PTI-backed lawmakers.
Shehbaz will be administered the oath of office on Monday at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-e-Sadr.  Shehbaz earlier served as prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.
—PTI

Shehbaz Sharif re-elected as Pakistan's Prime Minister in a coalition government, winning against PTI's Omar Ayub Khan. Set for oath taking at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Shehbaz Sharif elected Pakistan's Prime Minister for a second time

Chandigarh (Haryana): Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, Kurukshetra MP, OBC leader and Haryana BJP Chief Nayab Singh Saini, will be Haryana's next Chief Minister. Making the announcement after a meeting of the BJP legislators in Chandigarh, Haryana BJP MLA Krishan Lal Middha says, "Nayab Singh Saini to be next CM of Haryana. All people are now going to meet the Governor.
The BJP and its allies, 6 independent MLAs will now meet the governor. The new Chief Minister is expected to be sworn in later today. In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP has 41 MLAs. It also enjoys the support of 5 independent MLAs and the Haryana Lokhit Party MLA Gopal Kanda. Karnal BJP MP Sanjay Bhatia said, "...It is the CM's right to choose his cabinet and he will do so in consultation with the party...We will win all 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana... In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won all 10 parliamentary seats while JJP, which had contested the elections in alliance with AAP, could not put up a fight on 7 seats it contested.
 Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/manohar-lal-khattar-resigns-as-chief-minister-of-haryana-bjp-legislature-party-meet-soon" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/manohar-lal-khattar-resigns-as-chief-minister-of-haryana-bjp-legislature-party-meet-soon</a>&nbsp;
Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini, was appointed Haryana BJP state president in October last year. Nayab Singh Saini won the Kurukshetra constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by more than 3.83 lakh votes over his nearest challenger, Nirmal Singh of the Indian National Congress (INC). Saini, who was elected MLA for the first time in 2014 and has since served as a minister, is regarded as Manohar Lal Khattar's confidante. The Saini caste accounts for around 8 per cent of the Haryana population, with a substantial presence in pockets of Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Hisar, and Rewari districts which will have significant impact on Lok Sabha election. Saini's involvement with the BJP began in 1996, when he joined the Haryana BJP's organisational structure, serving alongside the state general secretary until 2000. He rose through the ranks to become the district general secretary of the BJP Youth Wing in Ambala in 2002, followed by his appointment as district president in 2005. Earlier, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday resigned from the state Chief Minister hours after the BJP alliance with the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) broke. The JJP led by Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala had 10 MLAs in the Haryana Assembly. Manohar Lal Khattar submitted his resignation letter to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya.
—ANI

Nayab Singh Saini appointed as Haryana's new Chief Minister ahead of Lok Sabha elections, signaling a major shift in state politics after BJP's meeting in Chandigarh.

Nayab Singh Saini to be Haryana's New Chief Minister

New Delhi [India]: Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda on Saturday welcomed the announcement of 2024 Lok Sabha election dates by the Election Commission and exuded confidence that the saffron party will form the government with an overwhelming majority. Taking to the microblogging site X, the BJP president posted, "I welcome the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election Commission. Elections are the biggest festival of democracy. It is a medium to keep the country and the state moving on the path of development and good governance."
Nadda further called upon the people of the entire nation to vote in record numbers and strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy. "I call upon the people of the entire nation to vote in record numbers and further strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy. Under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, BJP will form the government with an overwhelming majority and will work with determination to fulfill the aspirations of the people for the next 5 years," he added.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/7-phase-lok-sabha-polls-from-april-19-results-on-june-4" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/7-phase-lok-sabha-polls-from-april-19-results-on-june-4</a>&nbsp;
 The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Saturday. The counting will be held on June 4. The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections. Phase 1 elections will be held on April 19, the last date for making nominations is March 27. Polls will be held in 21 States and Union Territories.
Phase 2 elections will be held from April 26, last date of nominations for candidates in April 4.Second phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. Phase 3 elections will be held on May 7, last date for nominations for candidates is April 19. The third phase will cover 12 States and Union Territories. Phase 4 elections will be held on May 13, last date for nominations for candidates is April 25.Fourth phase will cover 10 States and Union Territories. Phase 5 elections will be held on May 20, last date for nominations for candidates in May 3. The fifth phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. Phase 6 elections will be held on May 25, the last date for nominations for candidates is May 6. The sixth phase will cover 7 States and Union territories. Phase 7 elections will be held on June 1, last date for nominations for candidates is May 14. The seventh phase will cover 8 States and Union Territories. Phase 1 elections will be held in 102 constituencies, a total of 89 constituencies will undergo in phase 2. In Phase 3, polling will be held in 94 constituencies.   96 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 4, and 49 constituencies will undergo polling in Phase 5. In Phase 6, polls will be held in 57 constituencies and also in Phase 7, 57 constituencies will undergo for polls. The assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will be held on May 13. while the Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim on April 19; Counting of votes will be held Jun 4. Nearly 97 crore voters will be eligible to vote for 543 Lok Sabha constituencies across the country. With the announcement of dates, the moral code of conduct comes into force immediately. CEC Rajiv Kumar said that strict directions have been given to District Magistrates and SPs to ensure level playing field. CAPF to be deployed adequately &amp; assisted by Integrated control rooms in each district. Check posts &amp; drones to ensure vigil. Ensuring voters' trust is paramount. Violence in elections is unacceptable. Impersonators to be swiftly punished. Transparency in permissions to parties/candidates through SUVIDHA portal. ECI has offered 27 apps and portals for all stakeholders. Vigil empowers citizens to report MCC violations and assured action within 100 mts. KYC app facilitates informed voting. A revamped results portal to enhance the experience on results day. He further mentioned that the poll body is sensitive to environmentally sustainable elections. "We are making efforts to minimise single-use plastic and encourage eco-friendly practices in the election process," he said.  CEC Kumar informed that to curb the flow of illicit money, the poll body has held extensive reviews with enforcement agencies. "Cash movement worth around Rs 3,400 crore was restricted in the last 11 state assembly elections in Rajasthan, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Tripura," CEC Kumar said. "Measures like ESMs portal, and coordination between agencies resulted in an exponential increase in seizures in the last 11 elections," he added. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that there is no place for bloodbath and violence in the elections. "From wherever we will receive the information of violence, we will take action against them," he said. With the announcement of election dates, the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect.
—ANI

BJP President JP Nadda hails the Lok Sabha 2024 election dates, urging a record turnout to back BJP's bid for a majority government under Modi's lead.

"BJP to form govt with overwhelming majority": JP Nadda welcomes announcement of LS poll dates by ECI

Male [Maldives]: Maldivians started voting in parliamentary elections Sunday, marking a crucial ballot for President Mohamed Muizzu, whose policies are closely monitored by India and China, both vying for influence in the Island nation, The Washington Post reported. Both countries are looking forward to it because the strategic location of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean makes it a sought-after prize for New Delhi and Beijing.
<a href="https://twitter.com/ElectionsMv/status/1781919136421200175" target="_self">https://twitter.com/ElectionsMv/status/1781919136421200175</a>&nbsp;
In a post on X, the Election Commission of Maldives shared the video of the Coordination Center for the 2024 Parliamentary Elections. Pictures from the election site were also shared showing people waiting in a queue for their turn to vote.
<a href="https://twitter.com/ElectionsMv/status/1781921311838847348" target="_self">https://twitter.com/ElectionsMv/status/1781921311838847348</a>&nbsp;
According to The Washington Post, Muizzu's election as president last year sharpened the rivalry between India and China, as the new leader adopted a pro-China stance and worked to remove Indian troops stationed on one of the country's islets.  Securing a parliamentary majority will be a difficult challenge for Muizzu due to rifts among his allies and the entry of additional parties into the race, according to the US-based news outlet. A total of 368 candidates from six political parties and independent groups are vying for 93 seats in Parliament. This marks an increase of six seats from the previous Parliament, adjusted to accommodate population growth, per The Washington Post.
About 284,000 people are eligible to vote and tentative results are expected to be announced late Sunday. During his presidential campaign, Muizzu adopted the slogan "India out," accusing his predecessor of compromising national sovereignty by granting India to much influence. Approximately 75 Indian military personnel were stationed in the Maldives, primarily engaged in operating two aircraft donated by India and aiding in sea rescue operations. Muizzu has taken steps to have civilians take over those activities. Tensions escalated when Indian social media activists launched a boycott of Maldives tourism in response to derogatory remarks made by three Maldivian deputy ministers about PM Modi. These comments were prompted by Modi's suggestion to promote tourism in Lakshadweep, India's own island chain similar to the Maldives According to recent Maldives government statistics, the number of Indian tourists has fallen, dropping that country from being the top source of foreign visitors to No. 6. Muizzu visited China earlier this year and negotiated an increase in the number of tourists and inbound flights from China. In 2013, the Maldives joined China's "Belt and Road" initiative, which was meant to build ports and highways to expand trade and China's influence across Asia, Africa and Europe.
—ANI

Maldivians vote in key parliamentary elections with President Muizzu's policies under scrutiny by India and China, impacting strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.

The Hawk

Tag : majority

BJP gets majority in K'taka legislative council as 7 elected 'unopposed'

Preeti

Tag : majority

BJP gets majority in K'taka legislative council as 7 elected 'unopposed'

Preeti

More about majority