“In the past, we used to wait for NLD [National League for Democracy], for the possibility of forming a coalition, as we had the same goal to fight for democracy in our country,” KhunHtunOo, the chairman of SNLD, told S.H.A.N. on September 1 in Yangon.“But now, we have made the decision that we arenot going to make a coalition with any party. We will serve as an opposition party and stand on our policy in fighting for the rights of the citizens.”

“We have learned that the reason why the ethnic groups cannot achieve their goal is because they have different perspectives on their goals,” said the SNLD chairman, who is not running for election himself in 2015. “Because of this, we will be…working by ourselves. We will not join with any party.”

As the November 8election nears, partyalliances are explored as a political strategy to compete more effectively.

SNLD is a member of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA), a group comprising 11 ethnic political parties and of which KhunHtunOo is the chairperson. The coalition proposed an alliance with the NLD in July, on the grounds that it would create “stronger ethnic representation in Parliament,” as was reported in The Myanmar Times. The NLD did not respond.

Controversies regarding coalitions have also extended to other regional parties.

According to a member ofthe Union Solidarity and Development Party’s (USDP) management team who wished to remain anonymous, the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP)and the 23-party bloc known as Nationalities Brotherhood Federation (NBF), has formed a coalition with USDP,Burma’s ruling party.An SNDP representative denied this, calling such an alliance “impossible.”

Some Burma watchers have also speculated that a burgeoning relationship between former USDP leader U Shwe Mann and members of theNLD suggested potential for collaboration between the two parties. However, in late August, the BBCreportedthat NLD party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyisaw U Shwe Mann as an “ally” but that “no formal alliance” had been established.

The NLD plans to compete in most constituencies in Shan State and throughout Burma in the Novemberelections. The Irrawaddyreported in July that the SNLD is competing in all constituencies in Shan State and in selected constituencies in Kachin and Karenni States.