India to Send Cabinet Minister to Muizzu Swearing in Ceremony

India has chosen to send a cabinet minister to represent the country at the upcoming presidential inauguration of President-elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. 

Traditionally, high-ranking officials such as the President and Prime Minister have attended previous presidential inaugurations in the Maldives.

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Shri Kiren Rijiju, India’s Minister of Earth Sciences, has been nominated to attend the ceremony scheduled for November 17. 

Rijiju assumed his cabinet position in May of this year, having previously served as a State Minister. This marks a notable shift, as it is the first time in history that a cabinet minister, rather than one of the highest-ranking state officials, has been appointed to attend a Maldivian presidential inauguration.

According to a press release from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Rijiju is set to travel to the Maldives on Thursday to participate in the ceremony. His stay in the country will extend until Saturday, following the Friday inauguration.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the oath-taking ceremony of the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, fostering strong ties between the two nations during the current administration’s term.

In contrast to the previous administration, President-elect Muizzu has asserted that his government will not maintain ‘special ties’ with India. Instead, he emphasised equal relations with all countries. 

Additionally, Muizzu pledged to withdraw Indian troops from the Maldives and intends to review several agreements made with India.

Muizzu remains firm in his commitment to a ‘Maldives First’ approach in shaping his administration’s foreign policy.