Myanmar's ruling party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), held its first ever special meeting at the weekend in the wake of changing scenario, stressing the need to study the real situation of the public and to support undertakings in the interest of the people, local media reported Monday.

Top leader of the USDP U Shwe Mann, who is also speaker of the parliamentary House of Representatives (Lower House), also emphasized the need to cooperate in realizing citizens' fundamental rights, promoting democracy and human rights, said the Weekly Eleven News.

He called for the government to carry out the duty in line with people's desire and do their utmost to work for preventing people from falling into misery.

Meanwhile, the USDP said it is nominating candidates to vie for the 48 vacant seats of the parliament in the upcoming parliamentary by-elections set for April 1 where Aung San Suu Kyi- led National League for Democracy (NLD) also announced to take part.

Of the 48 vacant posts to be elected from constituencies in 10 regions or states, 40 are for the House of Representatives, 6 for House of Nationalities and 2 for region or state parliament.

The Union Election Commisssion has set Jan. 31 a deadline for contesting political parties to register with the commission for entering the by-elections.

In the 2010 November general election, contested by 37 political parties in the absence of NLD, the USDP won the majority of the parliamentary seats at three levels.