The Election Commission (EC) in Arakan State has flouted electoral laws by allowing the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) to use religious buildings for public rallies for the polls, said a politician.

"The electoral laws state buildings used for religious purposes are not allowed to be used by any political party for public rallies. But the EC in Arakan State has allowed the USDP to use religious buildings for rallies. The EC is directly flouting the electoral laws in Arakan," he said.

The EC has allowed the USDP to use religious buildings, but has not allowed other political parties, including the National Unity Party and the Rakhine Nationalities Development Party to do the same.

"As far as I know the EC allowed many monasteries and community halls used for religious purposes in Sittwe to be used by the USDP for rallies, but did not allow other parties. The EC also indirectly supports the USDP for it to win the election," he said.

On 30 August, the EC allowed the community hall located in Tara Thisu Ward in Sittwe to be used by the USDP for an election rally, and on 9 September allowed the USDP to also use the community hall in Kay Pin Gyi Ward for a rally. Both community halls are used for religious purposes.

The EC has also allowed the USDP to use a number of monasteries in Sittwe for election rallies, including Thinkha Radanar, Khaung Lon Kyunt, Ray Kyaw Thu, Kai Shay, and San Pya Wards monasteries.

"Such behaviour of the EC demonstrates the ensuing election will not be free and fair. People in Arakan State have come to doubt the elections after the EC and the authorities have started acting in a partisanship manner in regard to the election," he said.

According to a local source, the USDP candidates in Arakan State have received help from government officials and are working together with the EC in Arakan to canvass for votes.

"If the election is free and fair, our party will be able to win the election in Arakan State. But the election will definitely not be free and fair because the USDP is a proxy party of the military government, which will ensure the USDP wins the election," said an RNDP central committee member.