RAHIM YAR KHAN, Aug 13: The political scenario of the district has changed altogether with change of heart at the provincial PML level. The ‘all-strong’ former district nazim Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood camp supported by federal ministers Jahangir Tareen and Humayun Akhtar Khan is no more in the good books of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi. He has been replaced by former district council chairman Sardar Rafiq Haider Leghari.

The latter joined the ruling party a couple months ago after deserting the PPP. Now he is being backed by the Awam Dost group led by state minister and PPP dissident Ch Zafar Iqbal Warriach, state minister Makhmood Khusru Bakhtiar, MNA Rais Munir Ahmad, parliamentary secretary for defence Maj Syed Tanveer, MNA Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Alam Anwar, provincial minister Ch Ijaz Shafi, and MPAs Ch Shafique, Rais Mushtaq and Chaudhry Mehmood. This group is also supported by adviser to Abu Dhabi Khalifa Bin Zayed in Pakistan and prominent businessman Ch Munir. Two local PPP MPAs are also supporting the candidates of the Awam Dost Ittehad.

Former district nazim Makhoom Ahmad Mahmood who announced dissociation from the ruling party on Saturday after failure to get the official backing, is again in run to rule one of the richest district councils in the Punjab. Besides Tareen, he has the support of his brother and provincial environment minister Makhoom Ishfaq Ahmed and fisheries minister Jam Hashim Ghaleeja, and MPAs Darya Khan Fayyaz, Qazi Ahmad Saeed and Mian Aslam.

The third candidate for district nazim is former federal minister and PPP’s central executive member Makhdoom Shahabuddin. But the opposition, including PPP, PML-N and MMA, has failed to strike any significant adjustment and field candidates in all UCs.

Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood is already supporting some nominees of Makhdoom Shahab. According to local political analysts, the former district nazim may withdraw from the race and support the PPP leader in the changed scenario.

The two groups within ruling PML were formed last year when Makhdoom Syed Ahmad Mahmood opposed the release of water in the Abbasia Link Canal feeding eastern belt of the district called Pacca area.

The Awam Dost Ittehad accuses the former district nazim of developing a specific area of the district to benefit the Jamaldinwali Sugar Mills. He is also accused of using Saraiki language as a slogan.

In its different public meetings, the Awam Dost Ittehad is highlighting the issue of former tehsil nazim Mian Bashir Ahmad who enjoyed four years of tehsil nazimship of Sadiqabad on a fake matriculation certificate with the support of Makhoom Syed Ahmad Mehmood.

On the other hand, Mahmood claims that the leaders of the Awam Dost group believed in biradrism. He says that development works launched during his tenure were for the entire district.

In last local elections the Awam Dost group won from tehsils Liaquatpur and Khanpur while Ahmad Mehmood group won more seats from Rahim Yar Khan and Sadiqabad.

According to independent political observers, a tuff contest between the Awam Dost Ittehad and Ahmad Mahmood group is expected.

Meanwhile, former district nazim Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood has resigned from ruling PML. He announced this decision at a press conference here on Saturday.

He told newsmen that he would take part in local elections as an independent candidate and would declare his next political strategy after a few days. He denied reports of joining PPP or PML-N.

BREAKUP: The district consists of 122 union councils — 40 of tehsil Rahim Yar Khan, 29 of Sadiqabad, 28 of Khanpur and 25 of Liaqatpur.