Yangon: Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy party hoovered up nearly all of the first batch of seats to be declared from Myanmar's election, as the opposition eyed massive gains to carry it to power after decades of military dominance.
The National League for Democracy's hopes of a decisive victory surged on Monday afternoon after poll authorities handed it 15 of the first 16 seats to be counted in Yangon.
Earlier party spokesperson Win Htein said that unofficial tallies showed the opposition was "on track to win more than 70 per cent of seats around the country."
He did not specify if the percentage would translate into power under Myanmar's complex political system. The NLD needs 67 per cent of available parliamentary seats to enjoy a majority.
That would be enough to overwhelm the USDP and their military allies, who are gifted 25 per cent of seats by a constitution scripted to ensure they still have a major stake in the future. The army-backed USDP, or Union Solidarity and Development Party, said it was ready for a wipeout in the commercial capital Yangon, while several of its heavyweights, including its chairman, lost their seats.
But the NLD shied away from an outright declaration of victory, with election authorities expected to release results in several waves deep into Monday night. Suu Kyi, who is still barred from the presidency under the army-drafted constitution, remained cautious, but hinted at victory.
