New Delhi, May 20: As per the preliminary prediction of most of the Indian exit polls, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed has on Monday congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hoping the island nation would be able to continue and boost close cooperation with the Indian government led by Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
In his official Twitter handle, Nasheed wrote on Sunday: “As Indian polls close, congratulations are in order for @narendramodi and the BJP. I am sure the Maldives people and Govt will be delighted to continue their close cooperation with the PM and the BJP-led Govt.”
As Indian polls close, congratulations are in order for @narendramodi and the BJP. I am sure the Maldives people and Govt will be delighted to continue their close cooperation with the PM and the BJP-led Govt.
— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) May 19, 2019
Last year in November, the prime minister had paid an official visit to the Maldives in order to address the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, after which the president surprisingly got defeated by current President Abdullah Yameen in the presidential election.
Moreover, during Solih’s official visit to New Delhi last year in December, India had announced a financial assistance package worth USD 1.4 billion to the Maldives.
According to ANI news reports, Nasheed’s congratulatory tweet comes even before the counting of the final votes in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections which is slated to kick-off on May 23.
Although, many of the Indian television news channels have already predicted or projected the BJP-led NDA government will continue to remain in power and at centre same as past with most pollsters offering Modi a clear majority win in the 543-member Lok Sabha,