The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), an ethnic armed group, has stated that Kayah State’s political parties will not be allowed to run in the military council’s elections.

The coup council has already begun preparing for the next election in 2023, gathering voter lists and household records, and setting polling station sites.

At the moment, the military council has extended Loikaw Bawlakhe, Mese and Demos in Kayah State to district level for the election, and fleeing residents are being told to return home.

According to the first secretary of KNPP, Khu Daniel said that the military council is not a legitimate government and does not represent the entire population; thus, the parties in Kayah State will not be allowed to run in the junta election.

In Kayah State, there are two regional parties: the Kayan National Party (KNP) and the Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP).

A KNPP official refused to answer a question from Than Lwin Times about what kind of measures will be taken against the parties that will compete in the election held by the military regime in Kayah State.

Than Lwin Times is still attempting to reach Kayan National Party (KNP) and Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP) officials for comment regarding the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP)’s statement.

In the 2020 general election, the NLD Party won 20 seats, the Kayah State Democratic Party (KySDP) won eight seats, and the Union Solidarity and Development Party won six seats in Kayah State.

More than 300,000 people live in Kayah State, which has two districts and seven townships.

Representatives must run for seven seats in the Pyuthu Hluttaw, twelve in the Amyotha Hluttaw, fourteen in the State Hluttaw , and one for the Minister of Ethnic Affairs, for a total of 34 seats.