Maungdaw, Arakan State: Four political parties will contest in the 7 November general elections in Maungdaw, a local election watchdog said.

The Union Solidarity Development Party (USDP), the National Unity Party (NUP), the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD) and the National Development and Peace Party (NDPP) will be in the election fray, according to the District Election Commission of Maungdaw.

The District Election Commission said the USDP and NDPP are going to contest in the Upper House (Amyotha Hluttaw), Lower house (Pyithu Hluttaw) and Region or State Hluttaw level in Maungdaw.

The USDP nominated its candidates for Amyotha Hluttaw - U Aung Zaw Win alias Zawhir Ahmed; U Htay Win alias Zahidul Rahaman and Tha Khin for Pyithu Hluttaw Constituencies number 7 and 8 while U Jangir Alam and  U Mya Aung will contest for Region or State Hluttaw of Constituencies number 1 and 2, according to the District Election Commission of Maungdaw .

The NDPD also nominated candidates for Amyotha Hluttaw, Nurul Haque; Soe Win and Tayub Uddin for Pyithu Hluttaw Constituencies number 7 and 8 while U Khin Maung Myint and U Shouket Ali will contest for Region or State Hluttaw of Constituencies number 1 and 2, the District Election Commission of Maungdaw said on its notice board.

The National Unity Party (NUP) also submitted its list of candidates for the election, except in one place, Pyithu Hluttaw, where the NDPP nominated two candidates for Pyithu Hluttaw and Region or the State Hluttaw.

The NDPP nominated candidates are U Fayasdul Haque for Pyithu Hluttaw Constituencies number 8 and Omar Faisal for Region or State Hluttaw of Constituencies number 2, where NUP nominated U Kyaw Aye (former BSPP Chairman of Maungdaw) as an Amyotha Hluttaw candidate and U Ba Sein for Pyithu Hluttaw Constituencies number 7.  U Htun Maung (Rohingya ethnic) and U Chit Htun Aung will contest for Region or State Hluttaw of Constituencies number 1 and 2.

A local community elder from Maungdaw told Kaladan Press, “USDP members are mobilizing the local people in rural areas to vote for them and if they do they will be given more benefits such as free movement, allowed to build or repair religious buildings and easy permission to marry.”

The community elder said the Election Commission has by refusing to give permission until 20 September restricted the ability of ethnic Rohingya political parties to run successful political campaigns.