Election day: PML-N eyes district council chairman seat

Elections begin today for several slots, PPP tries to gather support

FAISALABAD/ BAHWALPUR: Political activities in the district are heating up with elections set to begin today (Tuesday). Elections for the seats of district council, one technocrat, one youth wing, three kissan/labor, five minority and 15 women will be conducted where independent candidates along with other parties including Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will compete.

Currently, in the district council, out of a total of 139 members, PML-N holds 70 seats, PPP has 66, and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf occupies two while one member is independent.

For the chairmanship of district council along with special seats elections, two PTI members have decided to support PML-N, making the party’s strength 72. Out of the 25 special seats, Nawaz’s party is expected to win 18 seats making the total tally for the party 88. Analysts predict a PML-N win as the district chairman needs 83 votes to win the seat, and with the given number of favoured seats, PML-N may be a clear winner.

According to the recent political landscape of Rahim Yar Khan, PML -N seems to been dominant as out of 31 candidates in the district council, 27 announced to side with them.

Analysts believe PPP will have little support since the party has been out of the game for quite some time despite Bilawal Bhutto’s visit to Jamaldinwali.

While  vice chairmen, councillors from various urban union councils staged a demonstration in Faisalabad on Monday to protest against not being allowed to vote for reserved seats including minorities, growers, laborers and women.

The voting for the reserved seats in the local bodies elections is schedule to be held today and according to the criteria, only chairmen from each union councils were given the right of vote for the elections for the reserved seats.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2016.