Every few hours, election officials announce a few more election results, transforming hopeful candidates into members of the next parliament.

Most of them represent the National League for Democracy. And most have never served in a parliament or government.

Take, for example, U Than Win, the 62-year old retired rector from Mandalay University’s Department of Medicine. Pending final confirmation, he has won one of Mandalay’s 12 Amyotha Hluttaw seats, covering a large chunk of the urban centre.

A father of four who was born in Chan Aye Thar San township, U Than Win has operated an obstetrician and gynaecology clinic, and worked as medical superintendent at Palace Hospital since retiring from the university. His eldest daughter is also an OG specialist.

“I will stop my business now,” he said on November 10, as results trickled in. “I will stay in Nay Pyi Taw eight months a year.”

The long-time NLD supporter said he had always donated to the local party office, helping out where he could and becoming familiar with many of the organisers. When the party began to select candidates, he said he would be glad to run. They accepted.

It appears to have been a wise choice, as NLD figures show him taking huge wins in the three downtown townships that voted for his Amyotha Hluttaw seat: 87 percent in his hometown Chan Aye Thar San, 77pc in Aung Myay Thar San and 69pc in Patheingyi.

Although the party will largely dictate his agenda in parliament, U Than Win said he hoped to focus on his two specialties – healthcare and education. Having worked in medical education for 32 years, he believes he can identify ways to improve the nation’s university system.

U Myint Aung Moe, the NLD’s winning candidate for the Mandalay Region Hluttaw seat of Chan Mya Tharsi 2, said he was happy and excited to start this new career.

A 42-year old bachelor from Mandalay, U Myint Aung Moe grew up dreaming of a job in law enforcement. But social issues captured his attention and he ended up in charity work, helping migrant workers overcome low wages and poor access to healthcare. In 2012, when the NLD competed in by-elections, he shifted into grassroots campaigning for the opposition party.

“Most of the NLD candidates are not rich,” he said. “I am not rich. But my family supports me, as well as my friends.”

He added that his family members personally observed the vote count at a polling station near his house, staying up past midnight to witness history.

As the Pyithu Hluttaw representative for Chan Aye Thar San township, U Myo Naing has a long history of involvement with the Mandalay NLD.

He joined when it was founded prior to the 1990 elections, and was later jailed for four years for his involvement. Now aged 50 and a father of three, he is excited by the charged political atmosphere all around him.

“The people have more awareness and will than they did in the 1990 election,” he said.

Since the 1980s, U Myo Naing has run a small bookstore not far from his house. And while he acknowledges that the business is neither popular nor lucrative, he said the hobby provided “just pocket money”.

His older sister has supported him through his political career and his wife runs her own business, so he hasn’t needed to rely on the bookshop to get by.

Since October 1, however, its doors have been closed so he could focus on the campaign.

“I want to work together with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,” he said, “and I want to learn.”