Violence has not returned to the district known as the country's sugarcane-belt, but political divisions remain as Hindus typically vote for BJP and Muslims for the opposition
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said he believed the election would be both free and fair.
He was asked if the army would respect the results of the election and allow the opposition to govern if they end up winning. Gen Hlaing said he would respect fair results no matter who wins.
The senior general, however, said that the military will not be stepping back from politics until long running ethnic conflicts come to an end.
"The army will have to keep going until it achieves disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR)."
If the government can provide security to its people then the military would just play its role, but that depends on the situation, he said.