[2] Unlike the similarly named Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the party prefers the status quo of 7 states and 7 regions, rather than the SNLD's preference for a federal system with 8 states.

The party's headquarters are in South Okkalapa Township, Yangon, and its chairman is Sai Ai Pao.

In the 2010 general election, the party contested seats in Shan State, Kachin State and the Mandalay Region.

After the 2010 general election, the two SNDP representatives in the Shan State Hluttaw, Sai Ai Pao and Sai Naw Kham, were appointed ethnic affairs ministers of Shan State.

In December 2011, the party's head office moved to Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State.