SWABI: Two groups of Awami National Party (ANP), who are known for their long running rivalry within the party, have announced respective candidates to contest the upcoming election for Swabi district president.

Haji Rehmanullah, who remained party’s district president for 25 years, has already announced his candidature for the same position, while the other group, led by Jehanzeb Khan, announced on Tuesday that Aman Khan would be their candidate for the party top slot in the district.

“It seems that rivalry between Rehmanullah and Jehanzeb groups in the district would deepen after the election,” sources in ANP told Dawn here on Wednesday.

Mr Jehanzeb and his supporters have vowed to give tough time to Mr Rehmanullah in the coming elections.

When contacted, Arshad Khan advocate, district chairman of membership drive, said that the number of total votes for the district elections would be around 550. He said that elections to the union councils would be completed soon after which date for the district polls would be announced.

Leaders of various regions assembled at Mr Jehanzeb’s residence on Tuesday and decided with consensus that Mr Aman would be their candidate.

However, some leaders and workers believe the old rivalries between the two groups would intensify in the coming elections, which could affect the party position in the district in the long run.

A key party leader said on condition of anonymity that the party stood divided and there was even a group that could go for joining the party of Begum Nasim Wali Khan anytime.

“The situation is very serious because we are competing with Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan in Swabi district. We could meet the fate of 2013 general elections in the upcoming local government elections if we failed to unite different groups within the party,” said another leader.

Sources said that a few days ago former provincial minister Sitara Ayaz had asked Asfandyar Wali Khan to play his role in resolving differences between the two groups, but he instead tasked her to work for resolving their differences.

When contacted, Ms Ayaz said: “We know the prevailing complicated scenario in the district. The party leaders are also in contact with Mr Asfandyar and we are trying to settle the issues.”

She said that they would work for bringing forward honest candidates for president and general secretary slots. We expect that such candidates would be supported by the party activists.”