Three female candidates from the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) have registered to contest parliamentary seats in the 2020 General Elections, according to the party’s statement on 12 August.
The USDP’s female candidates will run for two Upper House Parliamentary seats for Constituency-9 and 11 and one Arakan State parliamentary seat for Gwa Constituency-1.
The total number of female candidates from Arakan State has reached 20.
The 20 female candidates are: six each from the Arakan National Party (ANP) and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), three each from the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) and the USDP and one each from the Arakan Front Party (AFP) and the Rakhine State National United Party.
Dr. San Shwe, Chair of Arakan State USDP said: “There were no female candidates from the USDP in Arakan State in the 2015 General Election. The inclusion of three female candidates in the 2020 General Elections shows some progresses.”
The USDP will compete in all constituencies in Arakan State, according to its statement.
There are three sitting female MPs from Arakan State—two in upper house parliament and one lower house parliament. However, there is no female candidate in Arakan State parliament.
