BAHAWALPUR, July 4 After the resignation of Aamir Yar Warren from the membership of the National Assembly, many candidates have become active to get ticket of either the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) or the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) for the NA-184 by-election.

Mr Warran resigned from the seat to avoid an adverse decision from the Supreme Court because of his controversial graduate degree. The Supreme Court, however, has directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to initiate action against Mr Warren for his fake degree.

The PPP's first choice for the by-election will be Mr Warren. Sources said that Mr Warren, two-time winner from the constituency, had got assurance from the party that he would be the PPP candidate for by-election. If the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualifies him, the alternatives could be Yousaf Ghalloo and Makhdoom Samiul Hasan Gilani.

Mr Ghalloo, a retired Foreign Service officer, was the PPP candidate from the constituency in the 2008 elections. Mr Gilani is a former tehsil nazim of Ahmedpur East and relative to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Viewing the escalating tension between the PPP and the PML-N, it is likely that the PML-N fields its candidate for the by-election and prospective candidates could be Najeebuddin Owaisi, who stood runner-up in the 2008 elections as a PML-Q candidate. Mr Owaisi has announced joining the PML-N.

Another PML-N's choice can be Makhdoom Ali Hasan Gilani, who is step-brother of Sami Gilani. A former MNA, he has also been the federal parliamentary secretary during the PML-Q rule. In the last days of the Shaukat Aziz cabinet, he had joined the PML-N. He was awarded the PML-N ticket to contest the 2008 elections for NA-184 but was disqualified by returning officer for being a defaulter.

Sahibzada Munawwar Hayat Abbasi, former PML-N tehsil president, has also indicated his intentions to apply for the party ticket for this seat.

The influence of Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi in the constituency cannot be ignored as it is believed that no candidate can win without his political support. Mr Abbasi has been behind the successive successes of Mr Warren. The Nawab is heading a campaign for the restoration of Bahawalpur province. He will consult his group before announcing his support for any political party.