Sittwe: The junta’s Election Commission has approved applications of two more political parties in Arakan State to contest the forthcoming elections, said party sources.

The Kaman National Progressive Party was approved by the Election Commission on June 16 to float a political party and the Khami National Development Party was approved on June 21.

A total of five political parties have been approved in Arakan State. The parties are: Rakhine State National Force of Myanmar, Rakhine Nationalities Development Party, Mro (or) Khami National Solidarity Organization, The Kaman National Progressive Party and Khami National Development Party.

Another political party, the Mro National Party, also registered with the Election Commission on June 23 but is yet to be approved to form an official party.

According to the Election Commission, 42 political parties in Burma have already registered to form political parties. Of them, 33 parties have been approved in accordance with the election law.

Although five political parties have been approved by the Election Commission in Arakan State, the parties are still awaiting permission from the Commission to undertake poll campaigns.

The Commission announced recently that every political party needs to apply to start their election campaign, but the Union Solidarity Development Party, backed by the regime and led by Prime Minister U Thein Sein, is into election campaign in Arakan State without official permission.