Myanmar holds phase 1 of three-phase polls; India sends observer

India’s Eastern neighbour Myanmar on Sunday held phase one of three phase elections, first polls since the military took over power in February 2021.

The next phase of elections is scheduled for January 11 followed by January 25.

More than 5,000 candidates from 57 political parties are participating in the elections for an estimated 950 seats in Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), Amyotha Hluttaw (Upper House), and State and Regional Hluttaws.


Myanmar’s Union Election Commission has announced that the Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) system, including First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) and Proportional Representation (PR) systems, will be exercised to elect candidates for the Amyotha Hluttaw and State and Region Hluttaws. Moreover, the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system will be used for the Pyithu Hluttaw and ethnic constituencies.

The pro-Army Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is widely expected to emerge as the largest party.

The military, which has governed Myanmar since 2021, said the vote is a chance for a new start, politically and economically, for the country. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has described the elections a path to reconciliation.

The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, in an opinion piece published on Sunday, said the poll would open a new chapter and “serve as bridge for the people of Myanmar to reach a prosperous future”.

India, Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Vietnam have sent observers to monitor the elections amid the country's ostracization by the West. International election observers include Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Kara-ool Sholban, Special Envoy for Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Deng Xijun, a delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Commission of Kazakhstan Yerman Mukhtar, a delegation led by National Election Committee (NEC) member Yich Samethy, and Nguyen Duc Thinh from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Myanmar is a critical neighbour. India has been a major trading partner and defence partner of Myanmar. The bilateral trade stands at US$2.1 billion in 2024-25 which includes India’s export of over US$614 million and import from Myanmar of around US$1533 million. Defence and Security Cooperation have strengthened over the years. Exchange of high-level visits, signing of MoU on Border Cooperation, training, Army, Air Force and Naval Staff Talks are important indicators in this direction.