Thirty two political parties—eight that are due to campaign for election across the Union of Myanmar and 24 that will canvass in their respective single regions or states—had applied for their registrations from February 1 to March 20 this year, according to a statement issued by the Union Election Commission (UEC).

The UEC said till March 20, there had been six parties that applied in accord with Section 3 of the Political Parties Registration Law and 26 parties that applied in accord with Section 25 of the law bringing the total number of parties having applied for registration to 32.

On March 20, National Democratic Party, Kachin National Congress and Arakan National Party wishing to continue as political parties applied to the UEC for registration in accord with the law, bringing to the total number of applicants to 32.

Among those 32 parties, eight will conduct their election campaigns across the union while 24 others will canvass in their respective single regions or states. Now, the UEC is scrutinizing their applications for registration.

The six parties that have applied for registration in accord with Section 3 of the law are Union Democracy Party, Federal Democratic Party, Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Wunthanu Party, Democratic Force and Labour Party and Democratic Party.

The 26 parties that have applied for registration in accord with Section 25 of the law include the Union Solidarity and Development Party, Pa-O National Organization, National Unity Party, Arakan Front Party, and Kachin State People’s Party, the Shan-Ni Solidarity Party and the Party of People, and People’s Pioneer Party.