The Union Election Commission (UEC) has been continuously releasing the results of the Part (1) election held on December 28, 2025. Across the country, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won almost 100% of the constituencies, but in Mon State, Chaungzon Township (Bilu Island), it lost two seats. While the Mon Unity Party (MUP) won both houses of parliament, the reversal of results in the state parliament seat due to advance votes has fueled local criticism.
Now, the biggest challenge for the new MUP MPs entering parliament is to implement the commitments in the party’s election manifesto and the coal-fired power plant project, which locals strongly oppose.
Chaungzon Results and the Role of (3) Winning Representatives
In Chaungzon Township, three Mon representatives won seats in different legislatures.
Nai Aim Chan Mon (a.k.a.) Min Soe Khaing (National Assembly) • According to Announcement (11/2020) dated January 8, he won in Constituency (4). His victory demonstrates that the Mon Unity Party still has strong public support within the Chaungzon region. It remains to be seen how he will protect the rights of the Mon people in national-level legislation.
Min Soe Thu (House of Representatives) • He overwhelmingly defeated the USDP representative by more than 23,000 valid votes. At only 29 years old, he is the youngest representative in this election, and it will be interesting to see how much he can bring the voices of the local people to the legislature with the strength of the youth.
U Aung Kyi Thein (State Assembly – Chief Minister) • The current Mon State Chief Minister narrowly won due to advance votes. Although he received only about 19,000 votes at the polls, he won with a total of over 21,000 votes due to over 2,100 advance votes. His opponent, U Nai Tun Oo from the MUP, had a lead of over 20,000 votes at the polls, but his loss due to the advance vote results has raised public suspicion about transparency.
The Biggest Danger for Bilu Island: The Coal-Fired Power Plant Project
Currently, the issue of greatest concern for local residents in Chaungzon Township is the coal-fired power plant project planned between Kalaw and Daral villages. This project could severely impact the environment of Bilu Island (Balu Kyune) and the health of its residents, leading the public to view it as a major danger that is wholly unwanted.
While there has been opposition to this project from the beginning, authorities continue to pursue it. As a result, local residents have very high expectations for the incoming parliamentary representatives.
Who will stand with the people?
The Mon Unity Party (MUP)’s election manifesto includes commitments to “resolve political problems through political means” and to “prioritize ethnic rights and regional interests.”
For the Bilu Island issue, which of these (3) representatives will truly stand with the people of Chaungzon Township will be determined by their publicly stated position on the coal-fired power plant project.
Whether the party will prioritize the public interest, as per its commitments, or follow the interests behind the project has become a life-or-death question for the people of Bilu Island.
In the upcoming new parliamentary political landscape, U Aung Kyi Thein, backed by the military and who won by advance votes, may try to implement this project and other Mega Projects in Mon State in the State Hluttaw (Legislature). In this situation, it will be interesting to watch whether the two MUP representatives can demonstrate their commitment to stand with the people in the Union Hluttaw (Parliament).
