U Sai Lin Lin Oo, a candidate from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) considered he was well-prepared to defeat his main rival, a former minister in a previous military-dominated regime, and running for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

They have registered to run for the lower house parliamentary seat in Bawlakhe Township in Kayah State.

U Sai Lin Lin Oo admits that he is up against a high-profile experienced candidate.

“U Soe Thein will become the major rival for me. He is a former Union Minister and has a lot of experience. As he has a strong background, I find it difficult to compete with him.”

U Soe Thein secured the lower house seat in Kyunsu Township in the 2010 General Election, and the upper house seat in Bawlakae Township Constituency in the 2015 General Election, as an independent candidate. He also served as a Lt-Gen in the army and the Minister for President Office in the reign of President U Thein Sein.

The NLD’s candidate is chair of Maw (Myanmar) Technology and Organic Production Company and former reporter of KT News Journal based in Kayah State.

U Sai Lin Lin Oo said: “I have three major pledges for the election if I win a victory. The first is most businesses in Bawlakhae Township in Kayah State are farmers. I will try to help the farmers in getting their crops to the market. The main crops are sesame and corn. The second point is the livelihood opportunities of youth. The next is land rights and ownership of farmland and the enactment of laws that provide protection to the farmers.”

But his rival U Soe Thein said: “I decided to compete in the election as people urge me to continue my work. I can talk about many subjects in the Kayah State parliament. I have made six election pledges—the formation of State government, the emergence of a federal union system, promoting the socio-economic status of people, conservation of tradition and culture of ethnic groups, safeguarding Our Three Main National Causes (Non-disintegration of the Union, Non-disintegration of National Solidarity and Perpetuation of Sovereignty) and solving the dispute with the bronze equestrian statue of General Aung San.”

The candidates who have registered to run for the upcoming election in Bawlakhe Township are: U Saw Win Hlaing from the National Democratic Force Party, U Soe Thein from the USDP, U Sai Lin Lin Oo from the NLD, U Sein Win from Kayah State Democratic Party, Daw Than Nwe from the Union Betterment Party (UBP), U Than Aung from the Democratic Party of National Politics, U Aung Thu Tun from the United Democratic Party and U Myint from the National United Party.

Bawlakhe Township has a population of more than 80,000. There are 4,200 eligible voters, according to the Kayah State Election Sub-Commission.