MITHI, Oct 6: A tough electoral contest is likely to ensue between the candidates of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, the National Alliance/Sindh Democratic Alliance in Tharparkar district.

Pre-poll activities have peaked in the Tharparkar district, which has two National Assembly and four provincial assembly seats.

Interestingly, the Arbabs and Rana Chandersingh — bitter rivals in the past — have formed an electoral alliance under the SDA umbrella against the PPP candidate.

There are 14 contestants from the two NA seats while 35 candidates are contesting from the four PA seats.

NA-229 (Tharparkar-I): The main contestants for this seat are Arbab Ghulam Rahim of the SDA and Gul Mohammad Laat of the PPP.

NA-230 (Tharparkar-II): This constituency, which has a large number of scheduled caste voters, has been in the grips of an acute drought and a large number of the registered voters have migrated to irrigated areas.

The major contestant for this NA seat are: Ghulam Haider Samejo (SDA) and Pir Imdad Ali Shah (PPP).

Imdad Ali Shah’s relation with Pir Noor Mohammad Shah Jilani may turn the balance in favour of the PPP as a large number of his devotees reside in this area.

Pir Pagara’s support may also improve the prospects for the PPP candidate against the SDA candidate.

PS-60 (Diplo): This constituency is considered to be a traditional seat of the Arbab clan, and was won by late Arbab Faiz Mohammad in 1988, 1990, 1997 and by Arbab Attaullah (present district Nazim) in 1993.

Here Arbab Ghulam Raheem (SDA) is facing Engineer Gyanchand (PPP).

PS-61 (Mithi): Here the SDA candidate, Rajvir Singh, is facing the PPP’s Dr Ashok Kumar Ratnani.

Dr Ashok is posing a considerable threat to the SDA, whose candidate is being supported by the Arbabs.

PS-62 (Nagarparkar): The SDA candidate, Haji Abdullah, the elder brother of Arbab Raheem, is facing the PPP’s Gul Mohammad Laat in this constituency.

The PPP candidate has bright prospects here. The votes of the scheduled castes will play a decisive role in this constituency.

PS-63 (Chhachhro): Here the SDA’s Abdul Razzaq Rahoomo is contesting against the PPP’s Mohammad Iqbal Rahoomo.

The PPP candidate’s position is better than the position of the SDA candidate.

Minority’s votes are also likely to play a key role in this constituency too.