Campaign intensifies as Myanmar election approaches

Campaigning by major political parties in Myanmar intensified on Sunday as the November 8 general elections entered the final phase of their countdown.

Candidate of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) U. Myint Hlaing delivered his campaigning speech in Nay Pyi Taw Council Area's Dakhina Thiri township constituency, Xinhua reported.

The event was attended by USDP members and their supporters.

Hlaing, who is also the minister of agriculture and irrigation, told the people about the developmental efforts of the party.

He said the people's force will be the only force that can build a more developed and prosperous nation.

According to the Election Commission, USDP will field 1,122 candidates in the election.

Besides, Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), delivered a campaigning speech at a 100,000-strong rally in Yangon on Sunday, saying the support of the people of Yangon reflects the whole country's support for her party and the people's strength is NLD's strength.

"Yangon region's support will contribute to the party's election result," she said.

According to the election commission, NLD will feed 1,124 candidates to run the election.

Election campaign started on September 8 and are set to end on November 6, two days before the polling.

A total of 6,040 candidates of 91 political parties and 310 independent candidates will contest for more than 1,000 parliamentary seats in the election.

The election commission has designated 1,163 constituencies for the vote at three levels of the parliament across the country, namely the House of Representatives (Lower House), the House of Nationalities (Upper House) and the Region or State Parliament involving ethnic representatives.

Of the 1,163 constituencies, 330 are for seats of the Lower House, 168 for the Upper House, 636 for the Region or State Parliament and 29 for ethnic representatives.