Maldives Elections Commissions (EC) on Saturday afternoon through its statement had announced the official campaign shutdown becomes effective on 18:00hrs lasting until 06:00hrs of the following morning.
As only moments remain before the campaign activities to endorse the presidential candidates become a criminal offense, supporters of both ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the opposition have taken it to the streets of Maldives capital Male' City to show their support for their respective leaders.
Just minutes before supporters of both PPM and MDP, in their separate rallies have gathered on Male' City streets and started trudging through the busy city's roads in efforts to show the solidarity in numbers on both sides.
However around 16:37hrs it was reported that Maldives Police Service attempted to intervene the opposition campaign rally. Meanwhile some of the opposition activists on Twitter have stated that local police have redirected the opposition from the main road of Male' City.
While the opposition rally is lead by presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his running-mate Faisal Naseem, the ruling party's rally is lead by president Abdulla Yameen's running-mate Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed.
Apart from Maldives capital, rallies by opposition and ruling party supporters are currently ongoing in several parts of the country.
Around 16:47hrs it was reported opposition rallies were ongoing at Haa Dhaal Kulhudhuffushi, Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo and Gnaviyani Fuvahmulah. Similarly ruling party's rallies were ongoing at Kulhudhuffushi and in Laamu atoll.
