Myanmar president clarifies on party chairmanship transfer

Myanmar President U Thein Sein met with members of the newly-formed central executive committee ( CEC) of the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and parliament representatives of the party here on Monday, clarifying on the party chairmanship transfer during his assumption of the presidency.

According to a press release from the party, Chairman U Htay Oo, speaking at the first meeting of the newly-formed CEC at the party headquarters, vowed to cooperate with the CEC members without going against the constitution, however warning that power struggle inside the party could affect consolidation.

Newly-assigned USDP general secretary U Tin Naing Thein, who replaced Maung Maung Thein, voiced no change with its objectives and policy as well as the plan of feeding selected candidates to compete in the upcoming general election without amendment.

USDP was reformed with a 53-member CEC on Aug. 13, retaining U Thein Sein as the original chairman and replaced U Shwe Mann, who acted as the party chairman during U Thein Sein's assumption of presidency since taking office, with U Htay Oo, the vice Chairman.

U Shwe Mann remained as a party member and speaker of the parliament.

USDP has claimed nominating a total of 1,139 candidates nationwide to run the November 8 general election.

Of the candidates, 320 are fed to contest for the seats of House of Representatives (Lower House), 166 for House of Nationalities (Upper House), 624 for Region or State Parliament and 29 for Region or State Parliament of National Races.

The Union Election Commission has designated a total of 1,179 constituencies across the country for the vote at four levels of parliament.