SARGODHA, Aug 28: In the wake of union council elections, the two major rival groupings, Awan alliance and Sumera-Tiwana alliance, have boosted their efforts to clinch top slots in Khushab district and its tehsils, while awaiting Punjab chief ministers patronage.

Awan alliance comprises former federal minister Malik Naeem Khan Awan and chief of Tanzeem-Al-Awan Malik Bashir Awan, supported by Shujah Baloch. on the other hand, Tiwana-Sumera alliance comprises former provincial minister Malik Khuda Baksh Tiwana and state minister Ms Sumera Malik, supported by Gunjial and Bandial groups.

Although the both alliances are claiming lead in the union council polls, but an impartial analysis shows that after winning the sympathies of independents they have almost equal chances in the district. The both alliances are also claiming to have ‘secret votes’ which they would reveal on the eve of district and tehsil nazims’ elections.

For the district nazim slot, former officeholder Malik Ehsan Ullah Tiwana is claiming to be the consensus candidate of Sumera-Tiwana alliance. The alliance is likely to field Haroon Bandial or Farooq Bandial for the slot of Khushab tehsil nazim, while for Noor Pur Thal it has yet not finalized any candidate.

Awan alliance is planning to field Umer Aslam Awan for district nazim slot and former district naib-nazim Malik Shakir Bashir Awan for Khushab

tehsil nazim. Shujah Baloch is expected to be the alliance candidate for tehsil nazim, Noor Pur Thal.

In Khushab district, Awan tribe is in dominating position and all the bigwigs of the tribe have proposed that if Ms Sumera Malik nominates an Awan from her group for the district nazim slot the Awan alliance will support her. For this purpose, it is reliably learnt that Ms Sumera has asked her allies, including the Tiwanas to field an Awan for the coveted slot. The suggestion has reportedly annoyed the Tiwana and Gunjial groups, and Saleh Muhammad Gunjial has reportedly started a separate campaign for some candidates.

Analyts say that Ms Sumera may be securing her National Assembly seat from NA-69 by supporting Umar Aslam Awan for district nazim to woo Awan tribe.

The situation may result in separation of Tiwana and Bandial groups from Ms Sumera, creating a third group in the districts’ politics. It is also being predicted that Ms Sumera may also accept Malik Nazeer Awan from her group for Khushab tehsil nazim slot. Ms Sumera enjoys a considerable vote bank in Soon Valley which helped Sumera-Tiwana alliance to get on par with Awan alliance in Khushab tehsil, but the Awans got lead in Noor Pur Thal tehsil, which was considered a stronghold of the Tiwanas.

Malik Khuda Baksh Tiwna, a seasoned politician, claims that his group is leading in Noor Pur Thal tehsil. He, however, denied any differences were developing amongst the components of Sumera-Tiwana alliance.

The both major alliances, despite belonging to the ruling party, are acting independently to make such adjustments which may help them in the next general elections, widely believed to be held earlier than 2007.

Another factor which will have a profound impact on the election of district and tehsil nazims is any nomination from Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi, which will be binding for the both sides. But the elders of Awan tribe have reportedly decided that they will not accept any Tiwana as district nazim.

However, the both alliances are hopeful to secure nomination from the chief minister.

Political pundits say that even if Awan alliance succeeds to win the sympathies of Ms Sumera, the Tiwanas may bag Noor Pur Thul tehsil nazim seat as they are leading in the area.