By IANS,
Yangon : The Myanmar election commission has urged its officers to ensure free and fair by-elections set for April 1.
Commission chairman U Tin Aye said the political parties and their representatives will canvass for votes in accordance with the election procedures.
Seventeen political parties are in the fray for 48 vacant parliamentary seats, Xinhua quoted the official daily New Light of Myanmar as saying Saturday.
Parties have been allowed to campaign through state radio and television from March 3. The seats are scattered in 10 states.
The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) will contest in all 48 seats.