CNI News
1 February 2026
The leaders of the two Shanni political parties that won seats in the 2025 General Election—the Shanni (Tai Leng) Solidarity Party (SSP), known as the "Tiger King" party, and the Tai Leng (Shanni) Nationalities Development Party (TNDP), known as the "Red Tiger" party—told CNI News that they will collaborate to promote Shanni literature and culture.
The priority for the Shanni people is to unify Shanni literature and culture, which currently varies depending on geographical location despite being the same ethnic group. Sai Htay Aung, Chairman of the TNDP, told CNI News that the two parties will work together to standardize these cultural elements.
"Regarding the Shanni people, we will implement the wish we have had since 2015. Our party has secured the position of Minister of Shan Ethnic Affairs [in Kachin State]. In Sagaing Region, the SSP has also secured the Minister of Ethnic Affairs position. These ministers will coordinate. We want to ensure Shanni people don't have one script in Sagaing and another in Kachin; if we are one people, we must have one script. Our cultures are the same, everything is the same, so the script shouldn't differ. We will try to unify the script first. By reviewing the past and building the best in the present, we will work toward a better future. We will discuss the current obstacles and how to move forward to achieve a win-win situation for everyone," he said.
Shanni party leaders Sai Htay Aung.
Sai Naing Naing Kyaw, Chairman of the SSP, also told CNI News that since they are the same ethnicity, they should share a single script. He emphasized that the SSP and TNDP will work hand-in-hand to develop the Shanni tribes.
"Being Shanni, we should have a single script. We are one people. We need to move past the attachments of 'my script' or 'your script' based on where we live and establish a standardized script for the entire ethnic group. We will make that happen. Based on the current election results, the TNDP, representing Kachin State, won the Shan Affairs Minister seat. In Sagaing, the SSP will also hold the Shan Affairs Minister seat. Therefore, I believe we can do more for the Shanni people than before. Furthermore, I hope the two Shanni parties can work together for political progress," he said.
Additionally, the Shanni parties told CNI News they would strive to improve regional transportation and infrastructure. Through these improvements, they aim to alleviate the burden of high commodity prices currently facing the public.
Shanni party leaders Sai Naing Naing Kyaw
In the 2025 General Election, the TNDP party, also known as the Red Tiger Party (Kyarr Ni Party), contested in Kachin State and won a total of four seats. These included one Shan ethnic affairs seat, one seat in the Amyotha Hluttaw through the proportional representation (PR) system, and two seats in the State Hluttaw.
Subsequently, the SSP party, commonly referred to locally as the Kyarr Min Party (Tiger King Party), contested in Sagaing Region and also won a total of four seats. These included one Shan ethnic affairs seat as well as seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, the Amyotha Hluttaw, and the Regional Hluttaw.
