DRP won 28 parliamentary seats, while the ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was able to secure 26 seats

The main opposition, Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) has secured most number of seats in the historic parliamentary elections held on Saturday, according to Provisional Results announced by the Elections Commission on Tuesday night.

DRP won 28 parliamentary seats, while the ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was able to secure 26 seats. DRP allied People’s Alliance (PA) won 7 seats and Dhivehi Qaumee Party won 2 seats. Jumhoory Party, the party of the billionaire politician Qasim Ibrahim, won just one seat. The Provisional Results shows that the coalition of DRP and PA won 35 seats and is more likely to succeed in forming a majority voting bloc with the support of independent candidates.

However, 39 seats are needed to secure a majority voting bloc in the 77 seat parliament formed under the revised constitution ratified on August 2008. As such no party has won a clear cut majority and the fight for the independent candidates has become more crucial than ever in determining where the balance of power will lie, as both parties will now lobby hard to get them in order to secure a majority voting bloc.

According to the Provincial Results, 7 out of 11 seats of Male’ went to MDP while the other 4 seats went to DRP. In Addu atoll, out of the 6 parliamentary seats, DRP secured 2 seats, MDP 3 seats and Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) one seat. In Ha atoll, out of the 5 parliamentary seats allocated to the atoll, MDP won 4 seats while DRP won one seat. Out of the 4 parliamentary seats of Raa atoll, 3 seats went to DRP and the other seat went to an Independent candidate. DRP also secured the 2 seats of Alif Alif atoll and 2 seats of Vaavu atoll. 4 parliamentary seats of Laamu atoll went to PA and 2 seats of Meemu atoll also went to PA. 2 seats of Dhaalu atoll was secured by Independent candidates.

When the new parliament convenes, the first and fore most would be appointing top officials to the independent institutions. In most cases, names are proposed by the president, which is then endorsed by parliament. This would be daunting task for the government, without a parliamentary voting majority.

Speaking to media on Sunday, Deputy Leader of DRP, Ahmed Thasmeen Ali has said his party is confident of winning majority of seats in parliament. Thasmeen, who won the Baa atoll Kendhoo seat, said initial results show that the combined victories of DRP, People’s Alliance (PA) and the party’s endorsed independent candidates will give his party a majority.