Constitutional void in Maldives not a good idea: India

Expressing concern over the political crisis in the Maldives following the last-minute cancellation of the Presidential re-vote, India today said it is not a good idea to have a "constitutional void".
"India was interested in the ongoing democratic process should be successfully completed. There should not be any hurdles," government sources said.
Maldives' Supreme Court had cancelled the September 21 presidential runoff and ordered the Elections Commission to hold the fresh polls on October 19, but the re-vote was blocked at the last minute by police, plunging the country into fresh political turmoil.
India yesterday expressed its serious concern and deep disappointment over cancellation of the re-vote.

Reacting to the developments in the Maldives, government sources said, "India would like to see what happens."
They said India was closely watching the situation in the Maldives and would not like to see any instability in its neighbourhood.

"And they understand this very well, they understand that our economies and security interests are closely intertwined and that we would not like to see any instability in our immediate neighbourhood, this is something that is understood very well and everybody is united on that."
"The political parties have realised they have to get on with the process and it is not a good idea to have a constitutional void," they said.

"There is a democratic process in Maldives that is ongoing, it is for the people of Maldives themselves and it will be done by the people of Maldives themselves," sources here told reporters travelling with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Russia.
They also noted that Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh had visited Maldives last week to meet Maldivian President Mohammed Waheed, former presidents Mohammed Nasheed and Abdul Gayoom and other top leaders.
Meanwhile, Maldives' Elections Commission said it will announce a fresh date for re-vote after consultations with all the political parties.