GUJRAT, Aug 22: A traditional, tough contest is expected between candidates backed by former district nazim Nazar Mohammad Gondal of the PPP and MPA Riaz Asghar Warraich of the ruling PML in all 65 union councils of Mandi Bahauddin district. Both leaders are busy mustering support in the Mandi tehsil; residents, however, say they are fed up with both and angry over step-motherly treatment extended to their problems.

In the 2001 local elections, the family of Nazar Gondal emerged as a major group in Mandi politics, enabling it to form the government in the district and in Malikwal tehsil. Nazar Gondal was elected the first district nazim and Haji Imtiaz Ahmad of Karrarriwala was elected his deputy by defeating Riaz Asghar Warraich and Akhtar Bosal, respectively.

The other two contenders who came third were Riaz Farooq Sahi of the JI and Ejaz Shah Khiali, a nazim from Pindi Kalu UC. Gondal is a former MNA. The loser, Riaz Asghar Warraich, is a close relative of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat while his deputy Akhtar Bosal is the son of former MNA Nawaz Bosal.

In Malikwal tehsil, Chaudhry Nadeem Afzal Chan of the PPP was elected the tehsil nazim by winning a triangular fight with Ghulam Husain Bosal of the PML and Sikandar Hayat Gondal of PML-N. Nadeem Afzal Chan is the son of former provincial minister Haji Afzal Chan and the nephew of the then district nazim Nazar Gondal. The Mandi tehsil was taken over by the PML-N, whose Shahzad Anjum and Ahmad Yar Gondal were elected the tehsil nazim and naib nazim, respectively. They had defeated Hameeda Waheeduddin and Shafqat Mangat, respectively.

Hameeda is the daughter of ex-MPA Mian Waheeduddin and was elected nazim from UC-4 (Mandi city), while Shafqat Mangat was elected nazim from Mangat UC. At that time, two close relatives of the Chaudhrys were divided over the nomination of the tehsil nazim in Phalia tehsil. Riaz Asghar Warraich had nominated Fazal Ikram Ranjha, while Waseem Gulzar pitched his brother, Shakeel Gulzar, for the slot.

The rival candidates could not get much benefit because of the division of votes, as Shakeel Gulzar was elected tehsil nazim. Shakeel is the son of former MNA Rana Gulzar. The family of the district nazim had to face a major setback when district naib nazim Haji Imtiaz Ahmad quit them and joined the ruling PML.

In return, Haji succeeded in getting a National Assembly ticket for his brother, Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad, in the 2002 general elections. In that election, the PPP won a national and a provincial assembly seat, while the ruling PML won a national assembly seat and four provincial assembly seats. Zulfiqar Gondal and Ihsan Elahi of the PPP were elected MNA and MPA, respectively. The former is the brother of the district nazim while the latter is also their close relative. Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad, the brother of district naib nazim Haji Imtiaz, was elected MNA while Riaz Asghar Warraich, Hameeda Waheeduddin, Arif Gondal and Fazal Ikram Ranjha were elected MPAs from the ruling PML platform.

This time Nazar Gondal and MPA Riaz Asghar are also future candidates for the slot of district nazim. Gondal, as district nazim, focused on his native tehsil Malikwal, launching uplift schemes there and totally neglecting the Mandi tehsil. Similarly, Warraich also carried out most of the development work in his native tehsil Phalia. Warraich has pitched his candidates in all 27 UCs of Mandi tehsil against those backed by Gondal.

There are several independent candidates in the run, too, in this tehsil, who have a good chance of winning owing to the two leaders’ unpopular profiles. In UC-4, MPA Hameeda was elected its first nazim, against the ruling PML-backed Akbar Ali and Zahoor Qaiser. The PPP had formed an alliance with the PML-N and fielded former Mandi municipality chairman Malik Salahuddin and advocate Akhtar Irfan. A tough fight is expected in this UC this time too.

The ruling party-backed candidate recently lost a by-election. However, in Phalia tehsil comprising 21 UCs, candidates of the ruling party look in a better position. Former tehsil nazim Shakeel Gulzar and Riaz Asghar are campaigning for their candidates.

Former MPA Tariq Raeka, who is the district president of the PPP, is canvassing for his candidates. In Raeka UC, his brother Yaqoob Raeka, who is the former nazim, seems to be in a winning position. The Malikwal tehsil, comprising 17 UCs, is considered to be the stronghold of Nazar Gondal of Gojra and Haji Afzal Chan of Pind Mako.

Former district nazim Nazar Gondal, former tehsil nazim Nadeem Afzal, former provincial minister Haji Afzal Chan and MNA Zulfiqar Gondal are canvassing for their candidates in this tehsil. However, the PPP candidates seem to be in a better position in this tehsil. A traditional tough fight is expected in Gohr UC where MNA Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmad and former district naib nazim Haji Imtiaz have pitched their brother, Iftikhar Ahmad, for the slot of nazim.

The Gondals have fielded Sajid Mahmood Gondal who is the former nazim from this UC. Gondal seems to be in a winning position again.

But, all said and done, analysts predict a win for the ruling PML-backed candidates in Thursday’s elections.