India welcomes successful completion of Maldives Presidential polls, congratulates Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

India said it is looking forward to work with Maldives in the upcoming days.

"We welcome the successful completion of the third Presidential election process in the Maldives which, according to preliminary information, Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won. We heartily congratulate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on his victory and hope that the Election Commission will officially confirm the result at the earliest," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

"This election marks not only the triumph of democratic forces in the Maldives, but also reflects the firm commitment to the values of democracy and the rule of law. In keeping with our 'Neighbourhood First' Policy, India looks forward to working closely with the Maldives in further deepening our partnership," it said.

In a major political upset, Maldives opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has claimed that he has won the crucial Presidential election in the island nation.

The opposition leader had fought a bitter election campaign against country's President Abdulla Yameen.

"Provisional results have declared the victor of the 2018 Maldives presidential poll as opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, popularly known as Ibu, with a lead of around 16 percent," reported Maldives Independent.

Polling was held on Sunday.

In a victory speech, Solih called the outcome "a moment of happiness, hope, and history."

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has meanwhile urged incumbent Abdullah Yameen, whose term was tainted by a crackdown on political opponents, courts and the media, to hand over power peacefully and release political prisoners.

"I call on Yameen to respect the will of the people and bring about a peaceful, smooth transfer of power," Solih said on national television after his victory.

There were fears that the polls would be heavily rigged since Maldives was reeling under a political crisis with the regime of President Abdulla Yameen in Feb this year arresting two Supreme Court judges including the Chief Justice, after declaring a 15-day state of emergency. He had also got arrested political rivals.

Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom representing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) is half-brother of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who had ruled the Islamic island nation from 1978 to 2008 uninterruptedly.

Gayoom was defeated in the October 2008 presidential election but in September 2011, he returned as the leader of the newly formed Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

Yameen was elected as President in 2013, defeating Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leader and former president Mohamed Nasheed in the 2013 elections.

In 2016, Nasheed was given asylum in the United Kingdom after he was convicted under the Anti-Terrorism Act of Maldives though international rights group like Amnesty International has described the conviction as "politically motivated".