The lower and upper houses have announced they will decide between two candidates each for their submissions to the pool of presidential nominees.

The two chambers of the bicameral parliament will vote separately, likely on 11 March, to submit their final picks.

The lower house will decide between Htin Kyaw, from the National League for Democracy (NLD), and the Union Solidarity and Development Party’s (USDP) Sai Mauk Kham.

Htin Kyaw, as the NLD pick, is widely expected to scoop the lion’s share of the lower house votes. The son of late poet and NLD co-founder Min Thu Wun, the 70 year old ethnic Mon is considered one of Suu Kyi’s most trusted men, as a fellow Oxford alumni.

USDP lower house politicians fielded current Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham for the vote. The former physician was elected as the second vice president in 2011, securing the position over Arakan National Party chairman Aye Maung.

In the upper house, the NLD submitted ethnic Chin lawmaker Henry Van Thio – a former military officer who holds a Bachelor of Law.

Speaking to DVB, Henry Van Thio said he was surprised by the nomination.

“I wasn’t expecting to be nominated for presidency and I am absolutely delighted with the news. As a Chin, this will be the highest post we ever get to serve for the country and I am proud of that. I hope that my ethnic brothers and sisters would be happy for me.”

The USDP submitted Khin Aung Myint, the former upper house speaker and a retired Burmese army major general.

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The military bloc of MPs will not vote in the houses, instead presenting their own candidate at an unspecified date. A final decision is expected next week.