SWABI, Oct 1: A tough contest is expected for the district nazim slot as two major contending groups are said to have been indulging in vote purchasing.

The Swabi Jamhoori Ittehad (SJI) comprises eight political parties and social groups – People’s Party Parliamentarians, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, two factions each of Pakistan Muslim League and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Jamaat Islami and Azad Group of Nazims.

Its rival Waton Dost Group (WDG) comprises the Awami National Party, Swabi Roshankhayal Group, PPP (Sherpao), Independent Group of Gadoon belt and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf.

The WDG has fielded Haji Amanullah Khan for the district nazim slot, Hanif Jadoon for Swabi tehsil nazim and Shahroom Khan for Chota Lahor tehsil nazim.

Shahram Khan, Najeem Khan and Shamsher Khan are the SJI candidates for the nazim posts of Swabi district, Swabi tehsil and Chota Lahor tehsil, respectively.

A WDG leader said: “The reason behind our delay in announcing the district nazim candidate was that we were thinking how to counter the millionaire rival candidate.”

The WDG has announced that it will no indulge in horse-trading or purchasing of votes as it wants to discourage the newly introduced corrupt practice in the district politics.

However, according to confirmed reports, both the groups are involved in buying votes and bargains in several cases have openly taken place.