Male, Jan 29 (Xinhua): The Maldives' ruling coalition has won majority seats in the local council elections held Jan 18, preliminary results announced by the Elections Commission showed.

In the atoll council elections, the government coalition won 73 seats or 55 percent, and this comprised 44 seats of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), 11 seats of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), 15 seats of Jumhooree Party (JP), and three seats of the Adhaalath Party, Xinhua reported citing local media.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won 55 seats or 41 percent of the vote.

Three atoll council seats were also won by Independent candidates.

In the island council elections, the government coalition won 423 seats or 45 percent, while opposition MDP won 385 seats or 41 percent and Independent candidates won 130 seats or 13.85 percent.

The majority in city councils was won by opposition MDP, with all six seats in Addu city council, and eight of 11 seats in Male city council. The remaining three seats in the Male city council were won by the government coalition.

The government coalition won majority in 86 island councils, while the MDP won majority in 74 island councils, and Independent candidates won majority in 15 island councils.