Former Myanmar presidential candidate under house arrest

DEKKHINATHIRI TOWNSHIP, Myanmar, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Shwe Mann, the head of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and a former potential presidential candidate, was placed under house arrest Wednesday.

Myanmar security forces surrounded the headquarters of the USDP in the Dekkhinathiri Township, therefore disallowing leader Shwe Mann from exiting the premises. Although security forces still surrounded his home as of Thursday, it is unconfirmed whether Mann is still at the headquarters.

Rumors had spread about Mann discussing an alliance with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar's first-ever democratic elections since 2011 are set to take place on Nov. 8. Despite relaxed media censorship and the freeing of hundreds of prisoners under the current government, the military retains a large influence on Myanmar politics, with a fourth of the parliamentary chamber seats still reserved for military officials.

Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) is expected to perform well while the current ruling USDP is expected to do poorly. By the same token, Suu Kyi is constitutionally prohibited from going after the presidency, meaning that any negotiations taking place between her and the USDP could heavily influence who Myanmar's next ruler will be.

Prior to his house arrest Wednesday, Mann was seen as a strong successor to current President Thein Sein. The USDP now insists that he is no longer the chairman of the party and other sources indicate that a conservative ruler close to Thein Sein has taken his place. Mann will still retain his role as a speaker in the country's parliament.