THATTA, Oct 4: Diverse factors have combined to improve the prospects for the candidates of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP), observers said here on Friday.

These factors include the whirlwind tours of key PPP leaders, including the PPP chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, the party’s provincial chief, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, and others, they said.

Recently, a team of observers and media men had travelled to coastal constituencies, including Mirpur Sakro, Ghorabari, Keti Bunder and Kharochhan and interviewed dozens of people, who told them about a surprising change in the local political scenario and erosion in the influence of the Shirazi group.

One of the major contestants from PS-85 is Syed Ayaz Shah Shirazi. His father, Syed Aijaz Shah Shirazi, is the sitting provincial minister for irrigation while his uncle, Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, is the district Nazim.

The PPP has fielded Sasui Palejo from this constituency.

Syed Karim Dino Shah Shirazi, who is contesting the polls from PS-88, is confronted by PPP’s Haji Usman Jalbani.

However, Sasui Palejo’s emotional speeches have proven vital for encouraging people to speak out against injustices.

Sasui, the daughter of ex-MPA Ghulam Qadir Palejo, and niece of the Awami Tehrik chief, Rasool Bux Palejo, had initially been criticised in the tradition-ridden remote constituency.

However, she is now recognised for her oratory skills. The people praise her for her inspiring speeches.

Haji Usman Jalbani’s position in PS-88 also seemed to have improved.

The position of Babu Ghulam Hussain and Dr Wahid Soomro — the contestants from PS-84 and NA-237, respectively — has also improved.

The prospects of the Shirazis also seemed to have dimmed after the chairman of the Thatta union council, Syed Murad Ali Shah, resigned from his post and launched a campaign favouring the PPP candidates.

The chief of the Sindh Taraqi Passand Party (STPP), Dr Qadir Magsi, has announced to favour the PPP candidates, while the workers of the Awami Tehrik and STPP workers have also been campaigning for the PPP candidates.

A tough contest is likely on NA-238 (Thatta-I) seat. Here Arbab Wazir Memon of the PPP is contesting against Mohammad Ali Malkani of the Shirazi group.

Another constituency, which is likely to see a tough contest, is PS-85 (Bathoro). Here Haji Shams Memon of PPP has been pitched against Syed Ayaz Shah of the Shirazi group.

The strong criticism of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal candidate, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Qasmi, who is contesting polls from Sujawal, has been a source of indirect support to the PPP candidates.

His speeches have been highly critical of the Shirazis.

The improvement in the prospects for the PPP was evident in the three public meetings held by the party’s candidates in Mirpur Sakro, Thatta and Sujawal.

Makhdoom Amin Faheem and his colleagues were present in all the three meeting, which were held on Thursday.

The observers believe that if the PPP continues to improve its position in the constituencies the Shirazis would hardly be able to maintain their grip on the outcome of the polls.

They say that it would be very difficult for them to win one out of the five provincial assembly seats and maybe two National Assembly seats from Thatta district.