Candidates from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) are taking the lead in all constituencies in Ann Township of Arakan State, said Dr. San Shwe, Chair of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)

The UEC held elections in Ann for the upper house, lower house and Arakan State Constituency-1.

“Our candidates are taking the lead in all constituencies. But the votes for the upper house are to be combined with the votes from Yanez Township. Only then can we confirm it,” he added.

The UEC canceled Abakan State Constituency-2 in Ann Township.

“I don’t know the final results yet. The National League for Democracy (NLD) is running in second place to the USDP,” said U Sue Lay, Vice-Chair of the NLD.

U Sue Thein, a candidate from the Abakan League for Democracy (ALD) said: “I am disappointed. There are seven wards and four village-tracts in my constituency in Ann Township. There are around 10 battalions including the western command in these village-tracts. The UEC decided to hold the election in those areas. The villages which support other parties were left out.”

On October 16th, the UEC canceled the elections in 32 wards and village-tracts in Ann Township, citing that they were not in a position to hold a free and fair election. But the UEC reversed its decision to skip the election in four village-tracts in Ann Township.

Candidates from Ann Township criticized holding the election in these village-tracts where the army is strong which amounts to delivering a major advantage to the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

The UEC held the election in four wards and eight village-tracts in Ann Township. There are 26 polling stations and 22,945 voters in Ann Township.

The candidates from the Arakan National Party (ANP), the Arakan Front Party (AFP), the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD), the NLD and the USDP and independent candidates competed in the election.