FAISALABAD, Aug 27: Voters rejected over 200 old faces participating in the race for nazim slots in the 289 city district union councils, re-electing only 72 candidates. Most of those entering the local politics for the first time are youngsters, many of whom defeated the kins of previous nazims.

Almost all the heavyweights who had also launched many uplift projects in their respective areas lost their seats due to what analysts think reports of corruption, misuse of powers and ignoring the people’s complaints.

The analysts are of the view that the voters mostly exercised their right to franchize in the union council elections on the basis of personal links and biradari factor instead of accepting the pressure of political figures in their respective areas.

The local opposition leaders have alleged that Federal Textile Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema is trying to manoeuvre the results in UC 240, from where the minister’s nephew, Irfan Haider Cheema, has lost by 200 votes. Mr Irfan has already moved election authorities for the recounting of votes.

Meanwhile, dozens of losing candidates have filed objections and appeals before the district returning officer alleging massive rigging in their respective union councils.

These candidates claimed that the polling staff at their union councils had favoured their opponents and changed the results of major polling stations.

Some of the candidates have levelled allegations of ballot stuffing against their opponents and demanded re-polling in their union councils.

However, the district returning officer has ordered recounting in over a dozen union councils where the winning candidates have a margin of a few votes and have links with top government functionaries.

Meanwhile, those analyzing the detailed results say the ruling PML faced a serious setback in the union councils falling in the urban towns of the district, while the opposition parties failed to get majority in the rural areas.

Reports say only 119 nazim and naib-nazim panels backed by the ruling PML could win their seats in the district, while the groups supported by the PPP and PML-N bagged 76 seats. The MMA obtained two seats of nazims and naib-nazims, while one panel of the Awami Tehrik also won in the district. A good number of 91 panels of independent candidates have also won in the local polls which would play an important role in the election of town and city district nazims.

The PML-Q, PPP and PML-N are claiming to have the support of over 60 per cent candidates and trying their best to enrol the independent candidates in their respective folds.

After the declaration of all union council results, most of the winner have started using the platforms of various political parties.