Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and DRP MPs Ahmed Nihan, Ilham Ahmed and Former Deputy leader Umar Naseer addressed the people gathered at artificial beach.

Gayoom in his speech said that the Local Council Elections had “proved that the citizens of the Maldives are with DRP.”

”Slowly the yellow color will fade away and turn into blue, very soon Male’ and Addu will also be free from yellow slavery,” said Gayoom.

He said that DRP faced many obstacles and had to “pass many challenges to win the election”, and thanked the people “for their cooperation.”

Opposition MPs and the host of the ceremony heavily criticised current President Mohamed Nasheed and the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

DRP MP and Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed said that it was only by the help of Dhivehi Qaumee Party (DQP) leader Dr Hassan Saeed, Jumhoory Party leader Gasim Ibrahim and the Adhaalath Party that President Nasheed had been able to win during the last presidential elections.

”But where are they now?” asked Ilham. ”They are not there with him. After a few days of Nasheed’s administratio, we heard Dr Hassan saying ‘No I can’t take it’. The same thing happened to Gasim, and now we are hearing the Adhaalath Party saying MDP is attempting to wipe out Islam from the Maldives.”

Despite President Nasheed’s numerous visits to islands during the campaign, DRP won more seats than MDP. But although more seats were won by DRP, major areas such as Male’ and Addu were won by MDP. Figures from the Elections Commission to be released this evening should show if this has given MDP the lead on a party-preference basis.

MDP also held a ceremony last night to celebrate victory.

President Nasheed congratulated President of MDP Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Chairperson Mariya Ahmed Didi and Parliamentary Group Leader ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik, as well as members and supporters of MDP on its success in local council elections.

In a statement the MDP said that ”people’s approval and support for MDP has increased as a result of this wide campaign by the party for these elections,” the President said, adding that he had phoned the leader of DRP Ahmed Thasmeen Ali yesterday.

”Speaking with Ahmed Thasmeen Ali, the President expressed his confidence of Thasmeen´s cooperation with the government in its effort to consolidate democracy in the Maldives,” said the MDP website.