What a great news! The four Karen political parties are preparing to merge. This news would encourage other ethnic political parties to merge into one. Two Mon political parties have been trying to merge into one for almost a year, but have not yet succeeded. If Karen political parties will be able to merge, then Mon parties need to learn from this process too. Upcoming 2015 elections will be different from 2010 elections because NLD will be contesting the elections this time. There will be great challenges for ethnic political parties to win seats in their areas if they are divided into different political parties. For example, in constituency A, Mon political party A won 60% of votes in 2010 election, and the party won the seat. But now there are two Mon political parties will contest in upcoming election. These 60% of voters in Constituency A will be shared by two parties--let's say 30% each and assuming that NLD will win the rest of the vote (40%). Mon political parties will no longer be a majority in that constituency and both of them will lose the seat. This is just an example of what could happen if Mon political parties or other ethnic political parties kept dividing into two or three political parties. It is not too late for Mon or other ethnic political parties to merge into one or form a more powerful alliance. If not, they must have better strategy to win seats in their areas in 2015 election.
Posted by Pon Nya Mon
Posted by Pon Nya Mon