Nai Sein Htun, a member of the MNP’s central committee and a former chairman of the Kyaikmayaw Township said: “Our party group that inspects and elects Hluttaw [parliamentary] candidates had already decided that I should compete for the Kyaikmayaw Township constituency Amyotha Hluttaw seat. [The House of Nationalities or upper house.] However, on 3 August, the group negotiated with me to compete for the State Hluttaw [state parliament], but I did not accept it. I told the group that I will resign if I am not allowed to run for the Amyotha Hluttaw post.”

Nai Sein Htun said that on 11 August he mailed a resignation letter to the Kyaikmayaw Township election sub-commission office telling them that he was resigning as chairman of Kyaikmayaw Township and resigning from the MNP and that he would not be involved in any of the party's future activities. He also closed the MNP's branch party office which was previously located in his house. Copies of the letter were also sent to the township’s administration office and the MNP headquarters.

Nai Ye Zaw, a member of the MNP’s central executive group said: “Last 27 July, at the party central executive meeting the votes were separated and decided. It was decided that I would be appointed as the Pyithu Hluttaw [House of Representatives or lower house] candidate for Kyaikmayaw. But, some other members of the the candidate selecting group substituted other candidates in our [the already selected candidates] places. What they are doing is not fair, rather, it is very dictatorial, therefore I am resigning from the party right away."

Nai Soe Myint, Joint-secretary (1) of the MNP said: “When our party’s inspecting and electing Hluttaw candidate group made a preliminary selection of candidates Nai Ye Zaw was selected. The central committee did select him, but because all three chairmen from the group did not support Nai Ye Zaw, he was removed from the candidate list.”

According to the Union Election Commission (UEC), Nai Ye Zaw submitted his name to the UEC on 13 August to compete in constituency No.2 of Kyaikmayaw Township as an independent candidate.

Similarly, the AMDP's serving Thanbyuzayat Township MPs; Amyotha Hluttaw MP Nai Htun Ohn and Pyithu Hluttaw MP Nai Thein Aung said they would resign from their party and both compete in their current constituencies as independent candidates.

The Mon parties have confirmed that there will be 45 MNP candidates, 35 AMDP candidates and four Women's Party (Mon) candidates competing for Hluttaw (parliamentary) seats.

The MNP, under its previous name of the Mon National Democratic Front (MNDF) had 19 candidates competing in the 1990 elections, which was subsequently annulled by the military. The only Mon political party to contest the 2010 elections was the AMDP which contested 34 Hluttaw seats.

Report by Min Thu Tha

Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI