The Chairman of the Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), Sai Aik Pao, has commented that the resignation of SNDP MPs will have no impact on the party.

The MPs are Sai Thurein Oo, MP of Nam Zarng, and Sai Kyaw Zeya, MP of Laikha, who announced on Tuesday that they had quit SNDP, colloquially known as “White Tiger” to join the Shan National League for Democracy or Tiger Head party.

Sai Thurein Oo, the MP of Nam Zarng said: “I have decided to quit as an MP of SNDP due to the wishes of the committee team and members of the party in Nam Zarng. Therefore, I submitted a resignation letter to the party.”

“Many SNDP members in Nam Zarng Township have quit the party and switched to SNLD,” he said.

It has been reported that many MPs and members of SNDP in Mong Kurng and Kesi townships, along with Mong Su, Kyawkme, Lashio, Panglong, and Sisang townships, have switched to the SNLD party.

“We have over 300,000 members in SNDP which include every nationality. Therefore, the resignation of the MPs does not have any effect on the party. They made the decision to resign from the party because their names were not on the MP candidate list for the 2015 general election. We also cannot force them to stay. The election is also scheduled to be held soon,” SNDP leader Sai Aik Pao said.

The SNDP party won 57 seats in the Parliament in the 2010 general elections, and one more seat in the by-elections in 2012.

Pressure has been mounting for the two Shan political parties to merge. Due to differences between the policies of each party, and negotiations have not been able to lead to an agreement, and the two parties will not be merged before the 2015 general election.