BAHAWALPUR, Jan 27: Rival political groups in the district have started consultations about the local-body election well before the announcement of schedule.

Activists of the ruling group as well as opposition are active in devising strategies for the future set-up of the district government.

The current week has witnessed hectic deliberations between the rival groups at the district and tehsil headquarters. Information gleaned by this correspondent reveals that former MNA Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi has once again been approached by his supporters and well-wishers to activate his group at the district level by fielding his own men for the slot of tehsil Nazims.

The supporters have even asked the Nawab, who lost to Tariq Cheema in the 2001 local election, to be one of the contestants for the district Nazim's slot. He is enjoying support of MNA Farooq Azam Malik and Makhdoom Syed Ali Hassan Gillani.

Mian Riaz Husain Peerzada, an MNA from Khairpur Tamewali tehsil, supported Nawab Salahuddin in the 2001 election but now he intended to field his brother, Syed Sajjad Husain Peerzada (district council's former chairman), for Nazim's slot.

PML District President Syed Irfan Gardezi, a former MPA, may also aspire for the slot with the support of his uncle Syed Tasneem Nawaz Gardezi, an MNA. Deputy District Nazim Syed Owais Gardezi, another member of the family, can also be a tough competitor for the slot.

However, a lot depends on Tariq Cheema who had announced that he would not again contest election to the slot. Participation of former MNA Sahibzada Farooq Anwar Abbasi also cannot be ruled out. As the government has announced the LG polls on a non-party basis, chances are that leaders of various parties resort to adjustments.