Eighteen months after its first democratically elected President Mohamed Nasheed stepped down, Maldives will go to polls on Saturday under the watchful eyes of 102 international observers which include a high-level team of former election commissioners from India.
Sources said poll preparations have so far been satisfactory but the real test will be on Saturday when polling begins in the 1192-island nation.
Over 2,229 local observers, 102 international observers, 1,343 representatives of political parties besides 1,642 local and 225 international journalists are keeping a hawk’s eye on the poll.
Over 2.39 lakh voters would cast their franchise to elect new President from among four candidates — incumbent Mohamed Waheed, Ex-President and Maldivian Democratic Party candidate Nasheed, brother of ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Progressive Party candidate Abdulla Yameen and Jumhooree Party candidate tycoon Gasim Ibrahim.