The deadline given to candidates contesting the upcoming parliamentary election to withdraw their candidacies has expired.

The Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) announced through a tweet that the deadline to withdraw candidacies expired on Tuesday, 19^th March.

The deadline for submitting candidatures expired on 21^st February, although as per a Supreme Court ruling in late February, individuals who lost party primaries were given a later deadline.

Over 300 candidates are contesting in the election, slated for April 6^th.