Officials of the Union Election Commission count ballots at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar, Nov 8, 2020. (THEIN ZAW / AP)

YANGON - Myanmar's main opposition on Wednesday demanded a rerun of a parliamentary election and called for military help to ensure fairness as partial results put Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling party on course for another commanding victory.

The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) called on authorities to hold another contest as soon as possible "in order to have an election that is free, fair, unbiased and free from unfair campaigning".

Partial results on Wednesday indicated a commanding lead and wins in more than 80 percent of the parliamentary seats that have been declared

The USDP challenge came as the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party looked set for its second successive election sweep, with wins in more than 80 percent of seats so far declared, with about a third of the results announced.

The NLD won 130 of the 158 declared seats in the bicameral legislature compared with 15 for the USDP. The NLD needs 322 seats to form the next government and has already claimed victory in Sunday's contest.

The NLD won by a similar margin in the last election in 2015, which was the first vote since the end of nearly 50 years of strict military rule and quasi-military rule.

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The ballot was seen as a referendum on her fledgling democratic government, which is hugely popular at home but its reputation abroad has collapsed due to accusations of genocide against the country's Rohingya Muslim minority, which it denies.

Several dozen pro-USDP demonstrators gathered on Wednesday in the capital, Naypyitaw, carrying signs with slogans calling for a new and fair election.

The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) alleged irregularities like poor-quality ballot boxes and envelopes, problems with advanced voting and government cash handouts it said amounted to ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party bribes

The party alleged irregularities from poor-quality ballot boxes and envelopes to advanced voting problems and government cash handouts that it said amounted to NLD bribes. It said celebratory gatherings by NLD supporters breached novel coronavirus restrictions.

The USDP challenge comes after weeks of unverified content and disinformation spread on social media about electoral fraud or irregularities before the ballot.

'Evidence'

The NLD demanded proof of wrongdoing.

"There will always be some people who say it is not fair," NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt said. "They must present evidence for their accusations."

The military in an earlier statement said the election was carried out "successfully". It made no immediate comment on Wednesday.

International and local observers said the vote went smoothly and without major irregularities.

There is no evidence that it was not a free and fair election. It was totally free and fair.

Myint Naing, an election commissioner, Myanmar 

The election commission on Wednesday said the allegations were from a minority of participants and the rest had approved.

"Democracy is about majority. We have to care about the majority," said Myint Naing, a commissioner.

"There is no evidence that it was not a free and fair election. It was totally free and fair."

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The election body was criticized before the vote, including by the military commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who said there were "unacceptable mistakes", underlining tension between the government and the military, which controls several key ministries.

The USDP call came as Aung San Suu Kyi's ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party looked on course for its second successive election sweep, after partial results on Wednesday indicated a commanding lead and wins in more than 80 percent of the parliamentary seats that have been declared.

The NLD has claimed a resounding based on its own unofficial tally.

Nearly a third of the contests have been formally announced and the latest official results take the NLD's seats in the bicameral legislature to 130 of the 158 declared, compared with 15 for the USDP.

The NLD won by a similar margin in the last election in 2015, which was the first vote since the end of nearly 50 years of strict military rule and quasi-military rule.

The NLD needs 322 seats to be sure of forming the next government.

The USDP alleged irregularities like poor-quality ballot boxes and envelopes, problems with advanced voting and government cash handouts it said amounted to NLD bribes.

It also complained about celebratory gatherings by NLD supporters it said breached novel coronavirus restrictions.

'Evidence'

The NLD said such complaints were to be expected but it demanded proof of any wrongdoing.

"There will always be some people who say it is not fair," said NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt. "They must present evidence for their accusations."

The election commission was not immediately available but it was scheduled to hold a news conference later on Wednesday.

The election was seen as a referendum on Suu Kyi's fledgling democratic government, which is hugely popular at home but its reputation abroad has collapsed due to accusations of genocide against , which it denies.

Despite the emergence of new parties, experts saw the election as a straight choice between the NLD and the USDP, the political juggernaut created by the military junta before it started the transition towards a civilian-led democratic system.

International and local observers have said the election went smoothly without major irregularities. The US-based Carter Center said on Tuesday that voting was conducted positively in 94 percent of stations visited.

The election commission, which is appointed by the president, was criticized before the vote over alleged errors in voter lists, censorship of broadcasts by opposition parties, and the cancellation of voting in areas affected by insurgencies.

Among the critics was the military's commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who said there were "unacceptable mistakes" ahead of the polls, underlining tension between the civilian government and the military, which has a quota of house seats and control of several ministries.