This event is part of the series “The Neighbourhood Scope,” a monthly feature of the Strategic Studies Programme that intends to rekindle key conversations, questions, and debates concerning India’s neighbourhood.
Five years since the military-led coup in Myanmar, which overthrew the then National League of Democracy (NLD) government, the people of Myanmar voted in a three phased election in December-January 2026 which further cemented the military’s position in the country. The junta backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) emerged victorious with approximately 72 percent of the votes, a steep rise from the six percent votes it won in the last general election in 2020. Even before the voting had taken place, there were reservations about the degree to which these elections would be free and fair. Of the 330 townships, the voting took place in 265 while more than 50 political parties were barred from contesting. The junta also came out with an Election Protection Act to penalise any form of criticism of the elections.
What direction will Myanmar take in the post-election period and when and how will the new government be constituted? How has the election helped legitimise the junta’s rule within the country? How have the people perceived these elections and what expectations do they have moving forward? What is the state of the opposition in the country now? What is the extent of control the military exercises in the country? How have Myanmar’s neighbours responded to the elections and their results?
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