Burma’s Union Election Commission (UEC) announced on Monday that the last date for political parties to submit their candidate lists for the November general election has been extended to 14 August.
In a statement, the UEC said that several parties requested the commission to extend the date due to the devastation caused by floods and landslides across the country over the past week.
The deadline to withdraw or amend candidate nominations was also extended, the UEC said, with 17 August set as the last date for changes to the lists. Verification of candidates will now take place on 18-27 August.
The political parties reportedly requested the extension as floodwaters continue to ravage large parts of western Burma, where transportation to township offices is all but impossible.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) on Sunday unveiled its candidate list, surprising many observers by omitting prominent members of the 88 Generation group.
Burma’s main opposition party said it will contest 1,132 of the total possible 1,171 seats in the upper and lower houses, as well as in state and division assemblies.
The NLD has not listed candidates for constituencies in Kokang, Wa or Naga areas.
Meanwhile, neighbourhoods have been evacuated in several towns in northern Pegu Division, located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.
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The government has declared disaster zones in four regions: Chin and Arakan states, and Sagaing and Magwe divisions.
State media on Tuesday reported that parliament would also be suspended due to the flooding disaster, noting that many MPs were engaged in relief operations.
Read more: Burma Floods
