The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is actively recruiting candidates for the upcoming 2025 election in Mon State, according to the sources.
Due to security concerns, many party members have gone into hiding. The USDP is working to bring these members back to participate in the election process, a resident of Mawlamyine reported.
“They haven’t started any major public campaigns like rallies or billboard installations yet. We’re closely monitoring the situation. Right now, they’re focusing on regrouping their loyal members and some party members who went into hiding due to fear of reprisals. They’re consolidating their strength,” the resident said.
On June 15, the junta’s chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, announced that a nationwide census would be conducted in October 2024 to prepare for the 2025 election. The census will be conducted using mobile tablets to collect data door-to-door, according to a report in the junta’s Myanmar Light News.
However, due to the PDF’s expanding territorial control in Mon State, a political activist noted that the junta’s census efforts might be limited.
“It won’t be easy for them to conduct the census across the entire Mon State. The situation is becoming increasingly tense. They might manage in towns like Mawlamyine, but in places like Mudon and Thanbyuzayat, their control is partial at best. Beyond Thanbyuzayat, they have no control,” the activist said.
In addition, the current biometric data collection and smart card issuance programs are also part of the census effort for the election, the activist added.
Election observers and political analysts have expressed doubts about the fairness of the upcoming election, stating that it is likely to lack legitimacy and may involve coercion of the public by the junta.
Of the 65 political parties that applied for registration with the junta’s Union Election Commission (UEC), 48 have been approved. Notable ethnic political parties still awaiting approval include the Arakan National Party, the Mon Unity Party, the Kachin National Congress Party, and the Zomi Democracy Federation Party.
