A council member who was elected independently has on Friday signed on to the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Abdulla Rasheed had contested the island council seat in Vaadhoo of Gaafu Dhaalu atoll.

He is the first council-elect who had acquired a seat without a party ticket to sign on to a political party.

While 252 independent candidates had contested the elections across the nation, 101 had acquired seats. 

The MDP had acquired 305 seats in the elections that were held last Saturday.

The ruling party, along with their coalition partner, had acquired 210 seats. 

The Progressive Party of Maldives has publicly said that a number of independent candidates would sign on to the Progressive Party of Maldives.