Maldives' electoral watchdog Thursday announced its decision to withdraw the appeal of the court ruling to delay the local council polls.
The civil court had postponed the council polls originally slated for January 14 by two months.
Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) filed the case seeking to delay the upcoming council polls by two months citing that the ongoing rift within the party had impeded its preparations for the elections slated for January 14.
Elections commission said the decision was prompted after the political parties unanimously advised the commission to withdraw the appeal and announce a new date for the elections.
The elections advisory committee comprising representatives of all political parties and relevant institutions Monday had urged the elections commission to abandon the challenge of the court order and announce new date for the elections.
According to the parties, the primary concern for the commission was the lack of time regardless of the outcome of the appeal.
The law mandates the commission to allow candidates 28 days to campaign before the elections date.
Main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) having earlier opposed the delay was also now backing a delayed polls.
MDP deputy chairperson Ali Niyaz who represents the party in the committee had said the primary goal of his party was to hold the elections at the earliest possible date, even if it meant withdrawing the appeal of the court ruling.
"When the elections commission said it would now be impossible to hold the elections on January 14, we [MDP] asked the commission to announce the earliest possible date to hold the elections," Niyaz had said.
"MDP wants to hold this elections as soon as possible. So we've asked the elections commission to announce the earliest date that it could hold the elections."
