The People’s National Congress (PNC) is contesting the upcoming Local Council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) Elections with 1,323 candidates, the highest number fielded by a single party in the history of Maldivian elections.

The Elections Commission (EC) announced candidate statistics on Tuesday ahead of the 4 April elections. Speaking to State media, the Commission said candidates from six political parties are contesting the polls.

A total of 1,210 candidates are contesting for local council seats nationwide. Among them, 665 candidates are contesting on the PNC ticket, while the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has fielded 495 candidates. Other parties contesting council seats include the Jumhooree Party with eight candidates, the Maldives Development Alliance with 31, The Democrats with eight, and the Adhaalath Party with three candidates.

For Women’s Development Committees, 1,116 candidates are contesting under five party tickets. Of these, 665 candidates are contesting on the PNC ticket, while 417 candidates are contesting under the MDP. The Jumhooree Party has seven candidates contesting WDC seats, the Maldives Development Alliance has 28, and the Adhaalath Party has six.

Speaking to MMTV, PNC Secretary General Muaz Haleem stated that the figures demonstrate the party’s organisational strength, describing PNC as the most structured political party in the country.

Muaz said the scale of participation reflects growing public support for the party’s political direction, adding that recent organisational strengthening efforts under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who also serves as party president, have contributed to this momentum.