A voter prepares to cast her ballot during the country's parliamentary elections on Sunday. Pics/AFP (Text/AP)
The Maldives votes in a parliamentary election likely to test President Mohamed Muizzu's tilt towards China and away from India, the luxury tourism hotspot's traditional benefactor
Six political parties and independent groups are fielding 368 candidates for 93 seats in Parliament. That is six more seats than the previous Parliament following adjustments for population growth
Muizzu's election as president last year sharpened the rivalry between India and China, with the new leader taking a pro-China stand and acting to remove Indian troops stationed on one of the country's islets
Securing a majority in Parliament will be tough for Muizzu because some of his allies have fallen out and more parties entered the race
About 284,000 people were eligible to vote and tentative results were expected to be announced late Sunday
Muizzu visited China earlier this year and negotiated an increase in the number of tourists and inbound flights from China
In 2013, Maldives joined China's 'Belt and Road' initiative meant to build ports and highways to expand trade and China's influence across Asia, Africa and Europe
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