Kachin State People’s Party (KSPP) has lost the election due to Bamar-dominant migrant workers despite support from Kachin locals, said party vice chairman (2) Kwan Gaung Aung Kham. 

KSPP fielded 65 candidates in the constituencies of Kachin in the 2020 general election held on November 8 but only four seats were won. 

“We have lost because of migrant workers here with a majority of Bamar people and new migrations. It is the undeniable fact that the indigenous people support our party,” he said. 

 The party chairman and all four vice chairmen contested the election but chairman Dr Tu Jar only won a seat. 

“Particularly, we were defeated by votes from migrant workers. It happened in Hpakant and Tani as well. Otherwise, there was no reason we could not win,” Kwan Gaung Aung Kham said. 

He called for the reconstitution of the Union Election Commission and amendment to the election laws. Otherwise, co-existence must be reviewed, he commented. 

“We had no reason to be defeated. Kachin people must win in Kachin State. But we are losing. We will be losing later. We do what we have to do. We need to review how we can co-exist here,” he said. 

Kwan Gaung Aung Kham contested the election Sunparabom Township constituency for a lower house seat. He was defeated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party candidates who secured 94 more votes.  

Their defeat was also partly due to the votes from military personnel in addition to migrant workers. 

KSPP merged with four Kachin parties and was established in April 2019. The party received a political party registration in June. 

Most of the constituencies in Kachin State were won by the National League for Democracy, followed by the USDP.