San Maung Than — Arakan State’s Agriculture and Irrigation Minister U Thar Lu Chay, began his campaign for re-election in Sittwe on Saturday to run as an independent candidate for the state parliament's Constituency No 1.
"I started my campaign at Aung Tine village in Sittwe Township on September 23rd as a good omen for my campaign and started campaigning in Sittwe town on September 26th,” he told Narinjara News during a campaign stop.
He explained that he is running as an independent candidate rather than as a candidate from the Arakan National Party (ANP), a party that now incorporates the party he previously ran with. He said he was also was urged by local residents to run in the election, he says.
"While I was serving as the Agriculture and Irrigation Minister in the Arakan State government, I not only supported cattle and fertilizers for the farmers in 36 Arakan villages in Maungdaw Township, but also ensured that Arakan farmlands end up in the hands of the Arakan people in each village. My campaign was successful,” said U Thar Lu Chay
During the parliamentary session, he submitted proposals dealing with Arakan State’s transportation, education and health sectors, which are some of the lowest among the 14 states and regions in the entire country.
U Thar Lu Chay represented the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party in the 2010 Election and received a ministerial position in the Arakan State government in early 2011.
Translated by Thida Linn with editing by BNI staff.
