Video: Maldives opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wins presidential poll

The Election Commission of Maldives on Monday declared opposition candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldivian Democratic Party as the winner of the presidential election in the country that has been gripped by political upheaval.

The ministry cited provisional figures from the country's Elections Commission showing Solih taking victory by a margin of 16.7 per cent over incumbent Abdulla Yameen in Sunday`s election.

The Commission spokesman Ahmed Akram said that Solih obtained 134,616 or 58.3 per cent of the votes polled, as per the provisional data of the election commission.

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Solih, the candidate from the coalition of four parties, whose leaders are either in exile or imprisoned, claimed victory in a televised speech on Sunday.

"We have won this election with a comfortable majority," Solih told reporters in Male.

"This is a moment of happiness. This is a moment of hope. This is a moment of history. We will establish a just and peaceful society in the Maldives. I will be a president for all Maldives.

"I would like to call upon President Abdulla Yameen and ask him to respect the will of the people and to immediately begin the smooth transition of power."

Hundreds of people gathered outside the main opposition campaign center in Male in jubilant mood, chanting “Ibu, Ibu, Ibu” and calling on President Yameen to concede defeat.

Yameen had been expected to cement his grip on power amid criticism over the fairness of the vote on the islands best known as a luxury holiday destination.

India, which is concerned with the political instability in the Maldives, welcomed the result.

"We welcome the successful completion of the third presidential election process in the Maldives which, according to preliminary information, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has won," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

The island country, home to around 22,000 Indians, is of strategic importance to New Delhi and its growing proximity to China is a cause of concern.

(With inputs from agencies)