Campaigning for Myanmar’s controversial December 28, 2025, national election began on Tuesday, October 28, with the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) holding high-profile rallies in Naypyitaw and Yangon under the slogan “Stronger Myanmar.” Led by former generals, including ex-police chief Khin Yi, the party vowed to follow “regulations and law” while asserting the polls would legitimize the junta’s 2021 coup.

Fifty-seven parties are registered, but Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD)—which won landslides in 2015 and 2020—was forcibly dissolved over two years ago for refusing to participate in what it called a sham process. With no credible nationwide opposition, the USDP, fielding over 1,000 candidates, is poised to dominate. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing confirmed voting will occur in only 202 of 330 townships due to ongoing civil war, with elections staggered in two phases.

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned ASEAN leaders on Monday that the election risks “further instability” and deepening Myanmar’s crisis. Armed resistance groups and protest organizers have vowed to derail the polls, launching a nationwide boycott from Tuesday through year-end. State media will broadcast party messages nightly, while smaller parties rely heavily on Facebook for outreach.

Also Read: Election Commission Set to Launch Major Voter Roll Overhaul This November

The military seized power in February 2021, falsely claiming NLD’s 2020 victory was fraudulent—a charge unsupported by evidence. The coup triggered a nationwide uprising, with brutal crackdowns and airstrikes killing scores of civilians. As fighting intensifies, the junta ramps up offensives to reclaim territory before the vote.

Critics worldwide condemn the election as a façade of legitimacy. With opposition crushed, battlegrounds off-limits, and dissent criminalized, the polls appear engineered to entrench military rule—raising fears of escalated violence in a nation already torn by conflict.

Also Read: After 5 Years in Jail, Sharjeel Imam Seeks Bail to Contest Bihar Election