Imphal, March 26: Manipur’s chief electoral officer P.C. Lawmkunga and Assam’s chief electoral officer Maninder Singh have been appointed as India’s observers during forthcoming election in Myanmar.

Confirming this Lawmkunga said he would be leaving for Yangoon on March 28.

The byelections in Myanmar will be held on April 1. The polling will be held to fill 48 vacant parliamentary seats.

The main Opposition party, National League for Democracy (NLD), was re-registered for the byelection on December 13.

NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi will contest from Kawhmu.

Suu Kyi, Nobel Laureate, was freed from house arrest in 2010.

New Delhi appointed the two observers from the Northeast following suggestions from the Election Commission.

Myanmar invited election observers from India and other countries in a bid to open up the election process to avoid severe criticism of poll practice by the ruling party, Union Solidarity and Development Party.

Congress governments returned for the third consecutive terms in the Assembly elections of both Assam and Manipur and the two officials oversaw the election process successfully.

“It isan opportunity for me. It is also a prestige for the state election machineries of the Manipur,” Lawmkunga said.

The official further said his appointment as election observer in Maynmar was an acknowledgement of the successful completion of the most difficult election in Manipur recently.

In previous elections only the Union Solidarity and Development Party monitors were allowed to observe the elections and ballot counts.

Since taking office in March 2011 after deeply flawed elections the new president, U. Thein Sein, a former general, took steps to break away from the highly centralised and erratic policies of the past.

The US, European Union, China and North Korea as well as Asean dialogue partners were also invited to observe the byelection.