The recently merged ethnic Mon party aims to win big in the 2020 general elections after a disappointing showing in 2015.
The Mon Unity Party (MUP), recently formed through a merger of rival ethnic Mon political parties, has created a new committee to help it develop a strategy for winning in next year’s general elections.
The party has instructed the committee, which is led by nine members of its central executive committee, to submit a draft plan by August.
“Winning in next year’s general elections is very important for the party. That’s why the MUP has formed this strategic committee led by nine CEC members. Its job is to draw up a winning strategy for the party in 2020,” Nai Layi Tama, the MUP’s joint secretary-1, told NMG.
The MUP plans to field candidates in two states and three regions. However, its impact is expected to be greatest in Mon State.
“There is now only one Mon political party after this successful merger. So now Mon people will have a clear choice and the Mon party will win more seats in 2020 than in the 2015 elections. I think the Mon party will win in many constituencies in Mon State,” said Mon political observer Min Min Nwe.
Two Mon political parties contested the 2015 elections, splitting the vote between them and depriving both of victory. To remedy this situation, local people and influential Mon monks urged the parties to merge.
“It was because Mon people didn’t know who to choose in 2015 that the Mon parties didn’t do well. That’s why Mon people wanted the parties to merge. Mon monks and people really pushed hard for this,” Min Min Nwe told NMG.
The MUP was formed through a merger of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party, the Mon National Party, and the Mon Representative Party.
On July 11, the Union Election Commission permitted the MUP to register as a political party.
The MUP will run for election in 23 townships in Mon and Karen state as well as in Bago, Yangon and Tanintharyi regions. According to joint secretary-1 Nai Layi Tama, the party’s CEC has already decided to open party offices in those townships.
