Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi says the Burmese election is “absolutely unlikely” to be free and fair because the election date has yet to be set and political parties will not have enough time to campaign.

Burma's newly registered Union Democratic Party (UDP) has launched a newsletter to support its general election campaign.

The Shan National Democratic Party (SNDP), which is also known as “White Tiger Party,” has become the most popular party in Northern Shan State, according to local sources.

Burma's election will attract an estimated 77 percent turnout, according to the Burmese “think tank” Myanmar Egress.

Burma’s notorious censorship board, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division, has closed “The Voice Weekly” in Rangoon for two weeks.

The transformation of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) into the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is clear evidence that Burma’s military regime does not intend to hold a legitimate 2010 election, according to Human Right Watch (HRW).

Burma’s Election Commission has approved the registration of the Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State (UDPKS), which is allegedly backed by the junta, while the Kachin Independence Organization's led by Tu Ja and a further two still await a decision.   

The regime-sponsored civic organization Union Solidarity and Development Association starts the process of “abolishing” itself after transferring all its property to its political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party.

Independent Kachin leaders have launched a third appeal to the Election Committee to register the Kachin State Progressive Party.

With the possibility of polls being held in October looking increasingly unlikely, political sources say the junta may push the election date back to December.