SIALKOT: As the local government polls are around the corner, candidates have geared up electioneering in Sialkot district.

Candidates have hired three-wheelers rickshaws to provide pick and drop to voters from their doorsteps to polling stations.

According to a rickshaw driver, a candidate, who has hired him for the polling day on December 5, will pay them Rs1,500 to 2,000 for that day. Candidates have decorated rickshaws with their posters and election symbols.

Besides rickshaws, candidates have booked drummers as well, as without them, their election rallies are incomplete. Political parties’ flags and posters are everywhere on roads, and the boundary walls of houses, schools and other properties. Electoral symbols such as lion, bat, arrow, bucket etc, made of plastic and wood, are also seen on streets.

Electioneering shows there is a tough competition between PML-N and PTI

Every single voter matters to candidates. At several places, candidates have set up stalls of soup, sweets, samosa, and tea for the public. Election rallies are served with meal.

Up to two million registered voters will cast their votes in elections for 124 rural union councils (UCs), 24 urban UCs of the Sialkot Municipal Corporation (MC), 30 urban wards of the Daska Municipal Committee, 20 urban wards of the Sambrial Municipal Committee and 26 urban wards of Pasrur Municipal Committee.

In the Sialkot city, 77 candidates are in the race for chairman and vice chairman slots of urban UCs of Sialkot MC. For the district council, 575 candidates are in the run for chairman and vice chairman offices of 124 rural UCs. Up to 2,868 candidates, including four women and four minorities’ candidates, are contesting for general councilor seats.

In the Daska city, 124 candidates are fighting for 30 urban wards, while in Sambrial city, 101 candidates are contesting polls for 20 urban wards. In Pasrur city, 114 candidates will try their luck for 26 urban wards.

District Coordination Officer Dr Asif Tufail told Dawn 5,000 police personnel would be deployed at 1,544 polling stations in the district.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2015