According to local media, the Maldives Elections Commission announced preliminary results Wednesday, which showed that the ruling coalition has won majority seats in the local council election held on 18 Jan.

In the atoll council elections, the government coalition won 73 seats or 55 percent, which was made up of 44 seats by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), 11 seats by Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), 15 seats by Jumhooree Party (JP), and three seats by Adhaalath Party, while opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won 55 seats or 41 percent.

Three atoll council seats were also won by independent candidates.

In the island council elections, the government coalition won 423 seats or 45 percent, while opposition MDP won 385 seats or 41 percent and independent candidates won 130 seats or 13.85 percent.

Majority in city councils was won by opposition MDP, with all six seats in Addu city council, and eight out of 11 seats in Male city council. The remaining three seats in Male city council was won by the government coalition.

The government coalition won majority in 86 island councils, while MDP won majority in 74 island councils, and independent candidates won majority in 15 island councils.