Committee passes to postpone parliamentary polls to after Ramadan
During the committee meeting on Wednesday it was passed to hold the parliamentary elections 10 days after Ramadan ends.
Summary
During the committee meeting on Wednesday it was passed to hold the parliamentary elections 10 days after Ramadan ends.
A parliamentary committee on Wednesday passed to postpone the parliamentary elections until after the holy month of Ramadan.
Main opposition MDP submitted an amendment to the election law seeking to hold the elections after Ramadan. The parliamentary elections has been slated for March 17 which falls within the first week of Ramadan. The amendment has sought to prevent any national election being held during Ramadan.
The opposition had voiced concerns over holding a national election during Ramadan citing challenges to campaigning and even polling.
The country's election commission however had raised concerns of its own to delaying the election. The commission's primary concern has been the availability of local schools where the majority of the polling stations are set up.
During the committee meeting on Wednesday it was passed to hold the parliamentary elections 10 days after Ramadan ends.
If the parliament passes on the amendment, the elections commission would have the discretion to set the date for the election.
Maldives will be heading to polling stations to elect 93 members to the 20th parliament of the island nation.
