Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu is said to have accepted an invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi on Sunday, according to a report from local media. The news portal Edition.mv cited its Dhivehi sister publication, Mihaaru News, confirming his attendance, along with several other senior government officials. However, there has been no official confirmation yet from the Maldives President’s Office regarding Muizzu’s first official visit to India.
Prime Minister Modi is set for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister of India, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerging victorious in the parliamentary elections. Wishes from global leaders poured in swiftly following PM Modi’s win.
In an earlier statement on Wednesday, President Muizzu congratulated PM Modi and expressed his willingness to collaborate to enhance bilateral ties. He stated, “Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP and BJP-led NDA, on the success in the 2024 Indian General Election, for the third consecutive term. I look forward to working together to advance our shared interests in pursuit of shared prosperity and stability for our two countries.”
In response to the post, Prime Minister Modi thanked Maldives President and expressed anticipation for closer cooperation to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations. “Thank you President @MMuizzu. Maldives is our valued partner and neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region. I too look forward to closer cooperation for further strengthening our bilateral ties,” PM Modi stated.
This would mark President Muizzu’s inaugural official visit to India since assuming office on November 17 last year. Notably, Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, diverged from his predecessors’ protocol by choosing to visit Turkey first and subsequently China for his first state visit in January.
Shortly after he was sworn in, President Muizzu stirred bilateral tensions by demanding the removal of approximately 88 Indian military personnel from the Maldives. These personnel were repatriated from three aviation platforms and replaced by Indian civilians by the May 10 deadline set by President Muizzu.
The counting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was held on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, and with its allies has 292 seats in the Parliament. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth winning 99 seats.
Other leaders also congratulated PM Modi and the BJP-led NDA government on their third consecutive victory in the Lok Sabha polls.
The swearing-in ceremony is anticipated to host leaders from neighbouring countries, such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and Mauritius, in addition to the Maldives, aligning with India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.