NLD projects win for Chin ethnic affairs minister post in Arakan State

11 Nov 2020

Min Tun | DMG
11 November 2020, Sittwe 

The incumbent Chin ethnic affairs minister for Arakan State from the National League for Democracy (NLD) has been re-elected to the post, beating out seven competitors for the seat, according to the ruling party’s state spokesperson.  

U Pon Bway, the current Chin Ethnic affairs minister, came out on top in Sunday’s general election race, said U Soe Lay, the NLD’s state-level party spokesperson. 

“U Pon Bway has won the votes currently being counted. We cannot say the exact figures,” he said. 

In Arakan State, one candidate each from the NLD, Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Chin National League for Democracy, Chin National Party and Asho Chin National Party contested for the Chin ethnic affairs minister post. U Saw Mya, My Su Su Hlaing and U Ko Ko Naing joined the five partisans as three independent candidates in the race. 

“We don’t yet know exact voting results. However, we do expect to win if comparing the Ann Township [results] with other townships. However, we will have to accept the announcement by the Union Election Commission,” said U Maung Maung Win, the Asho Chin National Party candidate. 

In Ann Township, U Maung Maung Win won 1,320 votes, while U Tin Oo of the Chin National League for Democracy got 1,151 votes; U Pon Bway won 941; U Saw Win from the USDP won 329; and U Tun Aung Kyaw of the Chin National Party won 183. The independent candidates My Su Su Hlaing won 580, U Ko Ko Naing took 215 and U Saw Mya tallied 125 votes, according to a township election monitoring committee.   

Among a much smaller electorate in Manaung Township, the Asho Chin National Party won 95 votes; the Chin National League for Democracy secured 52; the NLD garnered 282, the USDP clocked 76; and the Chin National Party registered 25 votes. Independent candidates My Su Su Hlaing received 14 votes, U Ko Ko Naing got 35 votes and U Saw Mya logged nine votes. 

Although the Arakan State results from Thandwe, Gwa and Ramree townships are not yet in, the votes from Ann and Manaung townships showed a close contest among the NLD, Asho Chin National Party and Chin National League for Democracy candidates. 

The above vote tallies were announced by the respective political parties and the UEC has yet to make an official announcement of the contest’s final vote totals.