SHEIKHUPURA, Dec 20: Unlike other parts of the country, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts have been quick to the Jan 8 poll activities and here candidates and their frontline supporters are visiting every man whose favour can add a few votes to their account. These districts are home to seven NA and 14 Punjab Assembly constituencies and in every constituency a tough battle is on.

In NA-131 which consists of Narang Mandi and Muridke, a tough competition is expected between the candidates of mainstream parties –- PPP, PML-N and PML-Q. Rana Tanvir Husain is the PML-N candidate, while Zulfiqar Ahmed Dhillon and Mushtaq Gujjar are PML-Q and PPP candidates. All candidates hold equal chances of winning the polls and it is hard to predict the results at this stage. Mr Husain has been elected from this area twice while Mr Dhillon, also a former MNA, is playing his clan card. PPP’s Gujjar is relying on the party vote bank. Under this constituency fall PP-162 and PP-163. From PP-131, PML-N candidate is Khurram Gulfam, PML-Q has fielded Sajid Bashir Butter and Sardar Hashim Ali Maan is the PPP ticket holder. In PP-163, Khuhrram Ijaz Chattha (PML-N), Rana Ijaz Husain (PML-Q) and Ashfaq Bhullar (PPP) are in the run.

In NA 132, the PML-N has fielded Rana Tanvir again, while PML-Q candidate is Shahid Manzoor Gill and Syed Ghayur Abbass Bukhari is of the PPP. The constituency consists of Sharqpur and Ferozewala areas. Even though the PPP candidate is a new to electoral politics, he holds good repute in the area because of his conduct and old affiliation with the party. Mr Gill is a former MNA. He was elected MNA in the by-poll after Jalil Sharqpuri vacated the seat in 2005. The provincial constituencies under NA-132 are PP-164 and PP-165.

In PP-164, Ashraf Rasool (PML-N), Shahbaz Gujjar (PPP) and Ali Abass Gull (PML-Q) are trying their luck. In PP-165, PML-N’s Mian Khalid Waleed Sharqpuri, PPP’s Saadat Nawaz, PML-Q’s Rao Jahanzeb Qavi Khan and independent candidate Maj (retd) Javed Nasrullah are among strong candidates.

In NA-133, which consists of the city and its adjoining areas, former Punjab senior minister Malik Mushtaq Ahmed Awan of the PPP, Saeed Ahmed Virk of the PML-Q, Mian Javed Latif of the PML-N and independent candidate Imran Yousaf Munj are trying to win the election.

In NA-134, Sardar Arfan Dogar (PML-N), Khuhrram Munawar Munj (PML-Q) and Noorul Ain (PPP) are among important contenders. PML-N and PML-Q candidates are doing their electioneering forcefully while the PPP candidate whose canvassing is being done by her father, Rai Ejaz Ahmed, is slightly behind her opponents in term of poll activities. The constituency consists of Farooqabad, Jandiala Sher Khan and Jhabran Mandi.

In NA-135, the presence of Rai Ejaz Ahmed (PPP), Syed Shamim Haider (PML-Q) and Barjees Tahir (PML-N) have made the battleground unpredictable. The constituency includes Khanqah Dogran, Safdarabad, Sangala Hill and Shahkot.

The three contenders are experienced, have been in the cabinets in the past and are old players of politics.

Under the constituency, PP-170 and PP-171 fall. From PP-170, Asif Masood Jilani (PPP), Tariq Mahmood Bajwa (PML-N) and Hamid Munir (PML-Q) while from PP-171, Sardar Aftikhar Dogar (PML-Q), Rana Arshad (PML-N) and Ahsan Raza Wahga (PPP) are vying for the slot.

In NA-136, former district nazim Chaudhry Tawakalullah Virk is a PPP candidate, Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk PML-N, and Pir Tariq Shah is the PML-Q candidate.

The constituency consists of Ferozwatwan, Warburtun and Mandi Faizabad.

As both Virks are from political families, Mr Shah is the nephew of Intelligence Bureau Director General Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah. Even though he is a novice to national politics, his relation with the IB chief makes him a strong candidate. According to sources, people running his electioneering are trained and experienced.

The provincial constituencies under NA-136 are PP-168 and PP-173. In PP-168, Abid Husain Chattha (PML-Q), Dr Zafarullah Malik (PPP) and Rana Tanvir Nazir (PML-Q) are in the run while from PP-173, Javed Manzoor Gill (PML-Q), Syed Abrar Shah (PPP) and Rang Elahi Padhiar (PML-N) have filed their papers.

In NA-137, Col (retd) Nisar Ahmed Khan is the PPP candidate, Rai Mansab Ali Khan of the PML-Q and Faisal Rashid is the candidate of the PML-N.

The constituency consists of the Nankana Sahib city, Bucheki, Syedwala and Baraghar.

In this constituency, the main fight is between PML-N and PPP candidates. Col Nisar lost the 2002 elections from the PMLQ candidate. The PML-N candidate is the son of Rai Rashid Bhatti, former PPP parliamentarians.

From the provincial constituencies, in PP-172 PPP’s Shah Jehan Bhatti, PML-N’s Amjad Husain and PML-Q’s Zulqarnain Dogar will try their luck while in PP-174, PML-Q’s Agha Ali Haider, PML-N’s Rana Zulqurnain and PPP’s Arslan Khalid are in the run.