The chairman of Myanmar's ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was removed from his post on Thursday, officials said.
U Shwe Mann, 68, was replaced by Vice Chairman U Htay Oo, who is assigned to take up the post of chairman concurrently, according to a decision of the party's central executive committee.
According to sources, U Shwe Mann's removal from the party leadership indicates he would be out of the running for the presidency in the general election slated for November 8, Xinhua news agency reported.
Meanwhile, USDP General Secretary U Maung Maung Thein was also removed and was substituted by U Tin Naing Thein, who was former minister at the President's Office.
He resigned on Wednesday.
