It was founded by former members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who disagreed with the party leadership's decision to boycott the 2010 general election.

[1] The National Democratic Force (NDF) was founded in June 2010 by Khin Maung Swe, Than Nyein, Thein Nyunt, and Win Naing, all of whom were prominent members of the NLD.

In December 2011, another member of the Amyotha Hluttaw Myat Nyana Soe, resigned from the party and joined the NLD.

[7] The NDF claims to be a social liberal party that seeks to promote individual freedoms and a market economy with state regulation.

[10] The party has been described as nationalist[11] and some of its prominent members have expressed their support for the ultranationalist Ma Ba Tha organization.