Electoral outcome in Myanmar will be respected by all parties: India

NEW DELHI: India today said it trusts that the electoral outcome in Myanmar, in which pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's party is poised for a landslide election victory, will be respected by all parties.

India also congratulated the people of Myanmar for the orderly conduct of voting and the peaceful and exemplary conduct of the electorate.

General elections for the Myanmar Parliament and Region and State Parliaments were held on November 8 within the framework of the 2008 Constitution and were open to international observers.

India had deputed a 3 member team of election observers from the Election Commission of India.

"The Government and people of India welcome this significant step towards democracy in a close neighbour with whom we have long historic links," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Congratulating the electorate, it added, "We trust that the electoral outcome would be respected by all parties".

Suu Kyi's party the National League for Democracy ( NLD) has won nearly 90 per cent of the seats, the results of which have been declared so far.

Although poll officials are yet to announce the NLD as winners, Myanmar's balance of power, dominated for half a century by the army and its allies, appears set to be redrawn.

But Suu Kyi's supporters remain anxious at how the army will respond to a mauling at the polls, with memories still keen of the 1990 election -- won by the NLD but then swatted away by the army.

"Citizens have expressed their will in the election," she said in letters addressed to President Thein Sein, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing as well as influential parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann.

"I would like to invite you to discuss national reconciliation next week at a time of your convenience."

The letters were shared by the NLD on Facebook.