USDP candidate U Nay Min Tun wins Arakanese affairs minister post in Yangon

By Admin 26 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

26 January 2026, Yangon

U Nay Min Tun, representing the military backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, has won the Arakanese Ethnic Affairs Minister post in Yangon Region in the junta-organized election.

Sources said U Nay Min Tun defeated other candidates largely through advance votes.

“U Nay Min Tun has won. This has been confirmed. However, the junta’s Union Election Commission has not yet officially announced the results. His main rival was independent candidate U Nyi Nyi,” a source close to U Nay Min Tun told DMG.

The elections in Yangon Region were held in three phases. The first phase covered 12 townships, the second phase 16 townships and the third phase 17 townships. Based on the combined results of all three phases, U Nay Min Tun emerged as the winner.

However, as the Union Election Commission has not officially released detailed results for the Arakanese Ethnic Affairs Minister post, DMG is continuing to verify vote counts.

Candidates for the post included U Nay Min Tun from the Union Solidarity and Development Party, U Tha Sein from the People’s Party led by U Ko Ko Gyi, Daw Aye Mar Lwin also known as Daw Khin Aye Myint from the People’s Pioneer Party, U Tin Maung from the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Daw Khin Hnin Si Aung from the Peace and Diversity Party and independent candidate U Nyi Nyi.

“It is no surprise that the military-backed USDP would win the election. We expected this from the beginning. There will be no significant change for Arakanese people in Yangon and U Nay Min Tun will be nothing more than a symbolic figure,” said an Arakanese resident of Yangon.

U Nay Min Tun is a native of Buthidaung Township and owns construction, hotel and other business companies. He contested the ministerial post under the USDP banner.

The USDP was formed in 2010 by former military generals who transitioned into civilian politics. Pro-democracy activists say the party was created to protect the interests of the military and associated business elites.

Political observers said that in an election where major popular opposition parties did not participate, the USDP secured most seats and is preparing to form a government in cooperation with the military.