For the upcoming elections, there are almost double the electoral candidates for Kalay District, in Burma’s Sagaing Region, compared to 2015 when the last general election happened, according to the Election Commission (EC).
In 2015, there were 33 candidates but 61 registered this year. Yin Nwe Nwe, secretary of Kalay District EC, said nine of the electoral candidates are women.
The candidates are contesting seats in the House of Representatives, House of Nationalities and Sagaing Regional Parliament. Eleven will contest the Minister of Chin Ethnic Affairs for the Sagaing Region.
There are 19 parties competing in Kalay District. Of these, nine are contesting in Kalay Township, five in Kalaywa Township and five in Minking Township.
In Sagaing Region, there are 173,997 eligible voters. By region, Kalay Township has 131,359, Tamu Township has 35,739, Homalin Township has 3,310, Layshi Township with 1,350, Khamti Township with 309 and a few hundred in the smaller townships.