THATTA, Sept 26: Candidates in Thatta district stepped up their rhetorics and door-to-door canvassing campaigns as the date for October election draws near.

Competition for hoisting more and more flags and affixing banners by the contenders also heated up between the 39 candidates contending for the two national assembly and five provincial assembly seats here.

Tough competition is likely on all seven seats between the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and the Shirazi group, which is contesting the polls from the PML-Q platform.

After having won the local bodies polls with majority, the Shirazis are confident of their victory in the upcoming elections. However, this appears to be an uphill task.

The PPP, which earlier lost the local bodies election because of fielding less popular candidates, seems to be gaining popular support because of the alleged strong-arm tactics adopted by the Shirazis.

Political observers believe that there still exists a silent majority favouring the PPP for services rendered to the people of the district. However, the people are annoyed at certain controversial decisions of the party’s leadership.