Elections Commission (EC) declared Tuesday that no requests to delay the upcoming Local Council Elections (LCE) were filed at the commission.
EC's Vice President Ahmed Akram responded to claims from opposition-aligned Naifaru MP and Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)'s Vice President Ahmed Shiyam, who had claimed that ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) was preparing to delay elections.
"We do not have any intention to cause delay for the upcoming elections", said Akram.
Slated for April 4, a total of 982 councillors will be elected in the first local council election to be held following a major amendment to the Decentralisation Act granting considerable autonomy and authority to the councils.
EC president Ahmed Shareef stated that the total number of applications from political parties and individual candidates reached a total of 2,435.
MDP will contest for 876 seats in the upcoming local council election, while PPM aims to secure 679 seats.
According to Shareef, over 1,800 women submitted their candidacy for the Women's Development Committee (WDC) elections set to be held concurrently with the LCE.
More than 540 ballot boxes will be placed for the election with 6,500 to 7,000 individuals serving as observers and officials for EC.
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