YANGON - A multi-party parliamentary by-election began across Myanmar Saturday morning at 6 am local time with a total of 2 million eligible voters going to polls to cast their votes.

A total of 94 candidates including 16 female are competing for 19 vacant parliamentary seats available in 22 townships in eight regions and states across the nation.

It is the first by-election since the new government, led by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), took office last year.

Of the 19 vacant parliamentary seats, nine are with the House of Representatives (Lower House), three with the House of Nationalities (Upper House) and seven with the state parliaments.

Of the 94 candidates, 87 are from 24 political parties with 18 each shared by the NLD and the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), while the seven others are individuals.