1960 Burmese general election

The Clean AFPFL, led by U Nu, and Stable AFPFL, led by U Kyaw Nyein and U Ba Swe, had been formed after a split in the main AFPFL party in June 1958. Until the military took over in October 1958, U Nu relied on the communists to retain a majority in parliament.[4]

Despite the formation of the two parties, there were no major ideological differences between them and their policies were similar, especially with regards to non-alignment, although the Stable faction favoured industrialisation and the Clean faction spoke more of agricultural development.[5] The Stable faction had given the impression it was favoured by the army, but, after realising the army was not as favoured as first thought, distanced itself.[5] It had also argued it represented stability.[6] Meanwhile, the "Clean" faction warned against the "dangers of fascist dictatorship",[7] and criticised the current leaders for their "drinking and womanising".[8] The communist NUF was severely repressed by the caretaker military government and was therefore outside the two main parties.[9]

The Clean AFPFL chose yellow to campaign, as it was the colour worn by monks, while the Stable AFPFL chose red and the National Union Front chose blue.[7]

An estimated 10,000,000 Burmese were eligible to vote.[10] The military largely stayed away on voting day, although it was present at some ballot boxes. Boxes for the "Clean" faction featured pictures of U Nu which the "Stable" faction and other smaller parties alleged confused the voter into thinking they were voting for Nu personally.[9] Polls closed at 6pm and a crowd estimated at 20,000 gathered at the Sule Pagoda in the capital Rangoon to hear results as they were posted.[5] The "Clean" faction took all 9 seats in the capital including one they were prepared to concede, while the "Stable" faction had some strength in the countryside.[11]

Media coverage of the event was restricted to print media only and vigorously covered, but was largely ignored by the state-run Burma Broadcasting Service which had not aired opposition coverage since before the AFPFL split.[9]

Voter turnout was 66%, then the highest in a Burmese election.[12] U Nu, remarking on his victory, said "I guess people like us".[7]

Chamber of Deputies

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Clean AFPFL	3,153,934	57.2	158	New
Stable AFPFL	1,694,052	30.7	41	New
National United Front	262,199	4.8	3	–45
Arakanese National Unity Organisation	160,783	7.3	6	0
United Hill People's Congress			6	–8
Kachin National Congress			3	+1
Mon National Front			3	New
People's Educational and Cultural Development Organisation			2	–2
Chin National Organisation			1	New
Kayah National United League			1	New
Kayah Democratic League			1	New
All Nationalist Alliance			0	New
All-Shan State Organisation			0	–4
Buddhist Democratic Party			0	New
Burma Democratic Party			0	0
Burma Nationalist Party			0	–1
Independents			16	3
Vacant	–	–	13	–
Total	5,513,895	100	250	0
Registered voters/turnout	10,000,000	66.0	–	–
Source: The 1960 Elections Burma, Nohlen et al.