India wants "inclusive, fair" elections in Myanmar with participation of all stakeholders: MEA

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing the weekly press briefing in the national capital, said, "On elections in Myanmar, we have said what our position is. We want inclusive, fair elections in which all stakeholders participate."

Sharing an update on the election process, Jaiswal said, "We have seen reports that two rounds of elections have been held. Further rounds will be held subsequently."

He also commented on reports of Indians travelling to Myanmar during this period, saying, "We do have people who have travelled from India, but these are individuals who have gone there in their private capacity."

Myanmar is holding general elections for seats in the Amyotha Hluttaw and the Pyithu Hluttaw of the Assembly of the Union in three phases, starting on December 28, 2025, and ending on January 25, 2026. The elections are being conducted under the military junta that assumed power after the 2021 coup. Military ruler Min Aung Hlaing had earlier indicated that polls would be held by August 2023, but the process was repeatedly delayed amid escalating violence.

India's comments on Friday mirror its earlier position. On December 26, 2025, India reiterated support for democratic transition in Myanmar and backed the holding of free, fair and inclusive elections.

At a weekly media briefing in New Delhi at that time, Jaiswal said India supports peace, stability and the return of normalcy in Myanmar.

Jaiswal had said, "On Myanmar, we stand for democratic transition in the country. Elections are to be held. We support free, fair and inclusive elections in which everybody participates and India stands for peace and stability and return of normalcy in the country."

On August 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Myanmar's State Security and Peace Commission Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, where the two sides reviewed bilateral ties and discussed avenues for cooperation.

During the interaction, PM Modi reiterated India's readiness to support Myanmar's developmental requirements and said New Delhi attaches importance to relations with Myanmar as part of its Neighbourhood First, Act East and Indo-Pacific policies.

In a post on X, the MEA said: "PM Narendra Modi met with Senior General Mr. Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission of Myanmar, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China. The leaders reviewed India-Myanmar ties and discussed the way forward on several aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade, development partnership, defence and security and border management. PM reiterated India's readiness to support the developmental need of Myanmar."

PM Modi also expressed hope that elections in Myanmar would be conducted in a fair and inclusive manner with the participation of all stakeholders. He said India supports a Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process, and that peaceful dialogue and consultation remain the only way forward, according to the MEA statement. (ANI)