India woos leaders of poll-bound Maldives

Ahead of elections in Maldives later this year, India is reaching out to all the political parties and leaders in that country.

Ahead of elections in Maldives later this year, India is reaching out to all the political parties and leaders in that country. Former Maldives president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is on a three-day visit to India. Gayoom was the president of Maldives from 1978 to 2008.

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Gayoom met prime minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. New Delhi is sparing no efforts to reach out to all the political parties and leaders in the country.

The move is significant as, in December 2012, the Maldives government had cancelled a 25-year agreement with Indian infrastructure major GMR to develop and operate its Male airport. This had led to tension between the two countries.

Former president, Nasheed, has visited India twice in recent times. And president Waheed was in India in May last year. Senior leaders from that country like Ahmed Thasmeen Ali visited India in August 2012. Defence minister, Mohamed Nazim visited India in April 2013.