Ibrahim Falah, Parliamentary Group Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC), has projected a sweeping victory for the ruling party in the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections, predicting the party will secure between 800 and 900 seats nationwide.
Speaking at a campaign launch event in Maafannu district on Friday night, Falah said the local elections have effectively become a two-party contest. He argued that while some political groups were initially vocal, many have failed to field candidates for a majority of available seats.
He also pointed to the high number of independent candidates contesting the elections this year, while dismissing speculation that some independents are backed by the government.
“There are no independent candidates supported by the PNC. Our candidates are those officially endorsed by the party. I want to make that clear to all citizens,” Falah said.
According to Falah, some individuals may be contesting as independents with the expectation of gaining political leverage or future advantages. However, he stressed that the current administration would extend its support only to candidates running under the official PNC ticket.
The remarks come as the Elections Commission of Maldives confirmed that the PNC has fielded the highest number of candidates for the upcoming polls, with 665 individuals contesting under the party’s banner.
In addition to local election matters, Falah also addressed the proposal to align presidential and parliamentary elections. He maintained that synchronising the two polls would not disadvantage the democratic process and would instead result in significant savings to the state budget — estimating that up to MVR 80 million could be conserved.
He noted that a public referendum on whether to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously will be conducted alongside the local council elections.
The upcoming vote is expected to shape local governance across the Maldives, with competition intensifying between major political parties and independent contenders.
