The Malé City Council has begun taking down banners put up by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) in preparation for its large-scale protest scheduled for October 3.

The demonstration, titled "Lootuvaifi Lootuvaifi!", has been the subject of significant groundwork by MDP, with banners and posters placed along key streets in Malé City and Hulhumalé.

Despite these preparations, city authorities have started removing the banners from public spaces, including prominent areas such as Majeedhee Magu. Images showing council workers dismantling the signage are now circulating widely on social media.

Repeated attempts to obtain a statement from the City Council regarding the removals have gone unanswered.

MDP representatives are alleging that the banners are being removed under direct orders from the council, despite the party having formally requested permission to place them in designated areas of Malé and Vilimalé. According to MDP, no response has been issued to their request, sent on September 15.

The situation has raised concerns over the selective enforcement of regulations, particularly as the city’s mayor is an MDP member, while the majority of the council is now controlled by the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). Although regulations require prior permission from the City Council to display banners in public areas, MDP maintains that its actions are lawful and within constitutional rights.

The removals have been viewed by some as a politically motivated effort to suppress opposition mobilization in the capital ahead of a major protest targeting the current