High Court Tuesday postponed the first hearing of the case filed by main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) seeking to overturn the decision by the country's electoral watchdog to annul all candidacies after announcing new dates for the delayed local council election.
High Court said the first hearing has been pushed back to Thursday after the state representing the elections commission had asked for more time to prepare its case.
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 during a press conference announced its decision to hold the court delayed local council elections on April 8.
The commission had also said the previous 900 candidatures have been annulled and everyone would now be required to re-submit their respective candidature.
MDP had said that the elections commission had no legal authority to call for fresh elections.
"The civil court had ordered the postponement of the elections. Not asked for a fresh election," Deputy MDP chairperson Ali Niyaz told reporters on Monday.
MDP lawyer Hisaan Hussain said the commission's decision had violated the rights of all 900 candidates.
"The commission can re-open for more candidatures. There is absolutely no need to annul all the candidacies and make them re-submit their candidatures," Hisaan said.
