"Party officials said that while they cannot yet go all out in their campaigning because of the ban on mass gatherings, they are acting within the limits. “The preparations have begun,” said U Aung Moe Kyaw, chair of the New Democratic Party. “But the situation is still very difficult.” Shan Nationalities Party joint secretary U Sai Kyaw Nyunt said that if COVID-19 continues to hamper preparations for the polls it may have to change tactics to reach out to voters. “We might have to organise online party offices,” he said. He added that while they have not yet selected their official candidates, the selection criteria have been drafted and are ready to implement. However, the country’s two biggest parties – the National League for Democracy and the Union Solidarity and Development Party – refused to discuss their preparations for the polls. Some parties have opted to postpone their preparations until the Union Election Commission (UEC) announces the election date. Daw Aye Nu Sein, spokesperson for the Arakan National Party, which controls the Rakhine State parliament, said it is difficult to start preparations because, even without the threat of COVID-19, there is the uncertainty caused by the fighting between the Arakan Army and Tatmadaw (military). “There is the war, and there are issues with COVID 19, so we have not started yet,” she said. A senior election official has said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the election would likely be held in November, the same as the elections in 2010 and 2015..."