Mardan prepares for battle of titans

ANP’s Amir Haider Hoti squares off against PTI’s Atif Khan

MARDAN:

Election fever grips Mardan as the district braces for a highly anticipated showdown between political heavyweights in the upcoming 2024 general elections.

The spotlight is on the fiercely contested national assembly constituency NA-22 Mardan-II, where former Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti squares off against PTI-backed former Provincial Minister Atif Khan.

With a mere six days remaining until polling day, political parties and independent candidates have kicked their campaigns into high gear, engaging in a flurry of rallies, corner meetings, and door-to-door canvassing efforts. Leveraging the power of social media and national newspaper advertisements, they vie for the attention and support of Mardan’s electorate.

All eyes are fixed on the electoral battleground of NA-22 Mardan-II, where ANP has pinned its hopes on former chief minister Hoti, while PTI rallies behind the candidacy of Atif Khan.

The contest is expected to be intense, given Hoti’s previous victories in 2013 and 2018, where he secured the seat with 44,769 and 78,911 votes, respectively, narrowly defeating his PTI rival by a slim margin of 35 votes in the latter election.

As the political rivals vie for support from influential clans and communities, the electoral landscape of Mardan unfolds with multiple contenders across various constituencies.

In NA-21 Mardan-I, former MNA Mujahid Khan, now an independent candidate, faces off against candidates from ANP, PPP, and JUI-F. Mujahid Khan’s previous victories in 2013 and 2018 underscore his electoral prowess, having secured successive wins against competitors from JUI-F and ANP.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2024.