The repeat first round of the Presidential elections was scheduled to be held on October 19 and that the Elections Commission was not allowed to proceed with holding elections as per its Constitutional mandate.

“India and the international community have been closely watching the developments in Maldives and are seriously concerned at the attempts to stall the democratic process. It is for the people of Maldives to decide their future, and their strong desire to elect a new president is evident from the turnout of 88% in the first round of elections held on September 7, 2013, which was considered free and fair by the large contingent of international and domestic observers present,” said Spokesperson in the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Syed Akbaruddin.

Keeping in mind the wishes and aspirations of the people of Maldives, who have so far shown admirable patience and restraint, it is important that the electoral process is put back on track immediately with a definite timeline so that a new president is elected and sworn in on November 11, 2013 as mandated by the constitution, he said

India called upon the Government of Maldives and all parties concerned to fulfill their responsibility towards the people of Maldives by playing a constructive role in the elections process and fully assisting the Elections Commission in holding the Presidential elections without further delay. India also called upon all parties to abjure violence and maintain calm.

Meanwhile the Maldives Election Commission in a statement said 'As we continued with (preparation for) voting, the Maldives Police Services have said no document relating to the election can leave the commission's offices, stopping the election.'

'When we are informed of the next date for the election, we will announce the election,' the statement added.

Earlier, the commission had announced that the vote would go ahead as planned despite 11th-hour court challenges by two candidates.

Progressive Party of Maldives candidate Abdulla Yameen and Jumhooree Party's Gasim Ibrahim had demanded fingerprint verification of the finalised voter roll, with police refusing to support the poll without the candidates' signatures.

The Supreme Court had annulled results of the first round of polling on September 7 and ordered fresh polls after hearing a petition on alleged electoral fraud filed by third placed candidate Ibrahim.

The apex court had ordered authorities to hold a fresh round of presidential polls before October 20.

In that balloting, former president Mohamed Nasheed, 46, got 45.45 per cent votes. However, a candidate needs to cross the 50 per cent mark for the poll process to be complete.

The political scene in Maldives has been in a state of flux since February 2012 when Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected President, was forced to resign in duress. He was succeeded by Vice-President Waheed.