According to preliminary investigations, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has secured the highest number of votes and is leading in both Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House) and regional parliament seats in Aungmyethazan and Chanayethazan townships, where voting was held in Mandalay City.

Regarding voter turnout in Aungmyethazan and Chanayethazan townships, where Phase (1) of the election was conducted, USDP candidate U Teza Kyaw was asked for his assessment.

“Voters were very enthusiastic. The turnout was higher than we expected, which is very encouraging. It appears that those who voted see voting as a chance for change for themselves. In the morning, turnout was relatively low as it was still early, but it gradually increased. At the polling stations in the wards I last visited, there were queues of around 200 to 300 people waiting to vote. Even at 4 p.m., when polling stations closed, some ward polling stations still had about 200, 300, or even 400 people,” he said.

On election day, at around 1 a.m., a shock bomb explosion occurred at a house in Nyaung Kwe Ward, Aungmyethazan Township, injuring two people. One woman suffered the loss of a leg in the incident.

Although it had been assumed that the incident might frighten voters and reduce turnout, U Teza Kyaw said the opposite occurred.

“The intention of those who carried out the shock bomb attack backfired. People in that ward and township turned out in large numbers to vote. I believe they came to vote because they desire peace and stability,” he said.

He added that while it had been estimated that nearly 60 percent of eligible voters would cast their ballots, the exact turnout would only be known after all polling stations closed. Based on votes counted so far, the USDP is reportedly leading in the polling stations that have been tallied.

The election in Mandalay Region Phase (1) was held across eight townships: Pyin Oo Lwin, Kyaukse, Aungmyethazan, Chanayethazan, Meiktila, Yamethin, Pyawbwe, and Nyaung-U. A total of nine political parties and three independent candidates competed, with more than 500 parliamentary candidates contesting the election, along with four ethnic affairs parliamentary candidates, according to reports.