Aung San Suu Kyi announces NLD to take part in Myanmar's general election

NAY PYI TAW - Leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi announced Saturday her party will contest the country's upcoming general election slated for November 8.

Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the NLD, told a press conference following a meeting of the party's Central Executive Committee at her residence in the capital that the party including herself will compete in all three levels of the parliament and in almost all constituencies.

Suu Kyi will compete in her original constituency Kawmu, a township in Yangon region, in which Suu Kyi won the 2012 by- election as a representative to the House of Representatives ( Lower House).

Priority will be given to qualified party members, especially women, youth and ethnic people for selection of candidates, she said.

Despite failure in constitution amendment of the Section 59 (f) related with presidential run, Suu Kyi said an alternative way, accepted by the people, will be arranged.

Suu Kyi said the party will try its best to work for winning the election overwhelmingly, adding that if it successes, the president appointment will be done in accordance with the desire of the people.

NLD's decision came days after the Union Election Commission ( UEC) announced November 8 for holding the country's general election.

The commission has designated a total of 1,171 constituencies across the country for the vote at four levels of parliament representatives with 330 constituencies set for election of the House of Representatives (Lower House), 168 constituencies for the House of Nationalities (Upper House), 644 constituencies for Region or State Parliament and 29 constituencies for Region or State Parliaments for National Races.

According to the commission, there are 83 registered political parties in Myanmar and each of them is set to compete at least in three constituencies.

The 2015 general election is to produce representatives to the next term of the parliament which will form a government of new term starting 2016.

NLD boycotted the last general election in November 2010 before the release of Suu Kyi from house arrest. It participated in the subsequent by-elections in April 2012 after Suu Kyi was released and the party's legal status resumed, winning almost all seats it contested with Suu Kyi occupying a seat of House of Representatives. She later became chairperson of the Committee for Rule of Law and Tranquility of the Lower House.

NLD was established in September 1988 after the previous military take-over, led by then General Saw Maung.