Sai Ai Pao, chairman of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), has urged voters to choose carefully when they make their selection at the by-election on 1 April.

“Our people should study thoroughly the political parties before casting their vote,” Sai Ai Pao said. “If we choose the wrong party it will have the impact on our community development.”

The by-election campaign is now underway, with Burmese parties competing for a total of 18 vacant seats across the country including three seats in southern Shan State’s Kehsi and Monghsu townships and one seat in eastern Shan State’s Kengtung Township.

The SNDP is fielding seven candidates: Nang Thin Oo (Lower House, Kehsi Township); Nang Nwe New (Shan State Assembly, Constituency No. 1, Kehsi Township); Nang Mon Aung (Shan State Assembly, Constituency No. 2, Kehsi Township); Nang Kham Yen Aung (Lower house, Monghsu Township); Sai Ba Htun (Shan State Assembly, Constituency No. 1, Monghsu); Nang Zarm Au (Shan State Assembly, Constituency No. 2, Monghsu); and Dr. Sai Yawd Hong (Shan State Assembly, Constituency No. 2, Kengtung Township).

Founded in 2010, the SNDP won 57 seats during the 2010 election. However, in 2015 election, it won only one seat; that was in Shan State Assembly’s Mongpan Township.

SNDP leader Sai Ai Pao told the public that “If our party [SNDP] wins, we will try our best to solve the problems and difficulties that our people are facing.”

The SNDP faces strong competition from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the National League for Democracy (NLD), the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), and other ethnic parties.

By Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN)