TAXILA: Different political parties, including the ruling PML-N, have started flexing their muscles to win the forthcoming local government elections.

The local chapters of the political parties and their aspiring candidates have launched their electioneering even though there are uncertainties about the elections due to the floods in the southern Punjab.

As the polls are scheduled to be held in September on party basis, the mainstream political forces in Punjab have launched their preliminary preparations.

Different political parties have constituted committees in order to finalise the names of their candidates for the 22 different wards of tehsil Taxila.

Candidates have launched their campaigns in various areas of the tehsil

The political parties and their local leaders have become active and are holding workers meetings, indoor meetings and conventions to mobilise their voters.

Interaction with the local leaders of the political parties showed that the PTI, JI and the PML-N will go for solo flights while the PPP and other political groups would forge alliances.

The PTI is considering itself as a key opposition party in Punjab and does not seem in a mood of forging an electoral alliance or making seat adjustments with any party. It is looking to challenge its opponent, the PML-N, without any support.

In a recent workers’ convention at Pind Nowsheri, the hometown of PTI leader Ghulam Sarwar Khan, the party leadership vowed to shun their differences in the Rawalpindi division besides plugging the loopholes which led to its defeat in the recently-held cantonment board elections.

The PTI leaders also announced to form a committee which after consultations would finalise the names of the candidates for the LB polls.

The PML-N will also opt for a solo flight in the elections and its leaders and workers are running their campaigns for their candidates. Contrary to the cantonment board elections, the PML-N has started early electioneering drives.

Interior Minister Nisar Ai Khan held a workers’ convention here on Saturday in which he directed the local leadership to finalise the names of the potential candidates.

In this connection, former MPA Umer Farooq called applications from the candidates from the 22 wards of the city which after finalisation would be sent to the federal minister for a final approval.

The PPP, which has lost most of its political ground in Punjab, looks confused about the upcoming elections.

When contacted, local PPP leaders said committees, comprising workers and leaders in the provincial assembly constituencies, were being formed to pick suitable candidates.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2015

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