Financial constraints and the short time allotted by the Election Commission to finalize candidature, has forced the Chin National Party (CNP), representing Chin people, to cut down on the number of candidates it is nominating for the 2010 general elections in Burma.

The CNP is nominating 23 candidates for parliament from Chin state western Burma.

Initially, the CNP had planned to put up 35 candidates for the parliament but the short time given by the Election Commission for submitting the list of candidates and fund constraints has forced the party to whittle it down to 23 candidates.

The exorbitant fee that the Election Commission is charging per candidate is the other obstacle in the way of nominating more candidates.

“A parliamentary candidate has to pay Kyat five lakhs as fees to the Commission. It is too much for us. The time for submitting the list is also short. We are very disappointed on Election Commission as we cannot fulfill our plan,” Salai Ceubikthawng, party general secretary told Khonumthung News.

The Chin National Party will not nominate candidates in Tonzang, Matupi, Paletwa townships in Chin state. Besides, the number of candidates contesting in Falam and Kanpalet towns has also been cut.

“We had thought of nominating five candidates in Falam Township initially, but now we will have only three candidates. In Kanpalet Township we will have only three candidates though we had planned to nominate four candidates,” he added.

The Chin National Party and the Chin Progressive Party will represent the Chin people in the forthcoming 2010 general election.

Meanwhile, the Ethnic National Development Party (ENDP) will represent Mara ethnic people in Matupi Township, Chin state in the elections. A list of 41 candidates of the Chin Progressive Party (CPP) and a list of three candidates of the ENDP have been submitted to the Election Commission.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) can pay all the fees for thousands of their candidates but other parties cannot afford it.