Reformed Myanmar ruling party voices no change with policy

Myanmar's ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), voices no change with its objectives, belief and policy Friday after its central executive committee (CEC) was reformed.

In its press release a day after its reformation, the USDP said the reshuffle was aimed at strengthening consolidation within the party and enhancing cooperation with other political parties and ethnic nationalities for the interest of the country and the people.

The release confirmed that there will be no change with its plan of feeding selected candidates regionwise and statewise to compete in the upcoming general election without amendment.

On Wednesday night, security measures of the party headquarters in Nay Pyi Taw was taken by the government's security forces, followed by an emergency meeting of the party CEC on Thursday, in which the reformation of party leadership was carried out.

U Thein Sein was retained as the original chairman of the 53- member CEC, and U Shwe Mann, who acted as the party chairman during U Thein Sein's assumption of presidency since taking office, was replaced by U Htay Oo, the Vice Chairman.

USDP has claimed nominating a total of 1,147 candidates nationwide to run the Nov. 8 general election for which the Union Election Commission has designated a total of 1,179 constituencies across the country for the vote at four levels of parliament.