New Myanmar political party woos voters with grocery truck
02 November, 2020
As Myanmar prepares for an over-all election in a few days, an opposition politician has found a fresh method of connecting with voters facing coronavirus restrictions and getting her message out.
Han Oo Khin, a prospect for the People's Pioneer Party (PPP), has been crisscrossing her constituency in the commercial capital of Yangon for more than a month with a truck selling affordable groceries which range from eggs to onions and noodles.
The Thingangyun township is probably the areas worst damaged by the coronavirus so 34-year-old Han Oo Khin, who is an advertising entrepreneur, believes her mobile market stall will help people obtain shopping and help her win some votes.
"It's like killing two birds with one stone," said Han Oo Khin, speaking next to the truck, which carries a major poster of her on the trunk, as her supporters passed out leaflets along with groceries to a cluster of shoppers.
"It assists the grassroots persons in my own township and alternatively, it introduces my party and me to the general public."
Han Oo Khin reckons the truck has helped her speak to thousands of folks in her constituency, where there are 180,000 voters due to cast ballots on Sunday (Nov 8), when Myanmar holds its second general election because the end of strict military rule.
With more than 50,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,200 deaths, Myanmar is facing among Southeast Asia's worst outbreaks of the virus and election campaigning in the united states has been hit by curbs on movements and gatherings.
The PPP is one of the new political parties emerging to challenge the popularity of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Aung San Suu Kyi's party is widely expected to win but smaller parties say they see opportunities with her support chipped away by growing ethnic conflict in a few areas and a sluggish economy.
The PPP is headed by a former person in parliament from Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy who was expelled from the party for criticising it over various problems.
Han Oo Khin has no illusions the PPP can defeat the ruling party but she's looking long-term and plans to keep operating the grocery truck to help build her party's image and her profile.
"We'll keep serving the persons to get ready for the 2025 election," she said.
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