Heading into the local government elections on May 30, the party is trying to regain its footing. PHOTO: EXPRESS
SHABQADAR: The 2013 General Elections was a rude awakening for the once all-conquering Awami National Party (ANP) who managed to retain just one national assembly and five provincial assembly seats during the polls. But it hopes to undo that in the upcoming local government elections.
The sole NA seat won by the party in the 2013 general elections was from Mardan, a traditional stronghold. It later regained the NA-1 seat in a Peshawar by-election, doubling its presence in the national Parliament.
After licking its wounds, the ANP underwent party-wide reorganisation. It dissolved its old setup and changed its central and provincial infrastructure following a fact-finding committee. They even undertook a revamp of its grass-roots level politics, a move the ANP hopes will pay dividends when the province goes to the polls for local government on May 30.
In Peshawar and Charsadda, ANP has formed strong alliances with the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). While its ties with the JUI-F remain intact throughout the provice, its relationship with the PPP has become estranged in Mardan.
Mardan a rising power
That may pose a problem as ANP contests on 38 seats in Mardan district. The JUI-F is contesting on 34 seats.
Party leader and former Mardan mayor Himayatullah Mayar is hoping the alliance can bag at least 50 seats and form a coalition at the district and tehsil levels.
Mayar, who secured his national assembly seat after winning a by-election, said the party had done much for the district during its tenure and now the district was emerging as a major urban centre. He claimed that in five years’ time, Mardan city will be second only to Peshawar in K-P in terms of urbanisation.
He blamed the wave of terrorism just before the May 2013 general elections for ANP’s defeat. “We were the main sufferers, but now the people can feel the difference we made in Mardan,” Mayar said.
The ANP leader added that the people are notice how PTI’s promise of change was nothing more than mere slogans.
But ANP must face stiff competition from PTI which had demonstrated its power by arranging a huge public gathering in the area.
Mayar though dismissed the massive gathering, saying they had little value since there are hundreds of candidates in the running for local government elections.
ANP buoyed by JUI-F partnership in Charsadda
Charsadda, the home town of ANP leaders Bacha khan, Wali Khan and Asfandyar Wali Khan, saw the ANP lose all its seats in 2013. Now, the party has joined hands with JUI-F and PPP for the local government elections to give it a boost in the area as it contests on 31 seats.
In contrast to the ANP, the JUI-F had bagged a National Assembly seat and one provincial assembly seat from from Charsadda in 2013. The JUI-F is now contesting on 25 seats in the district.
The Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) had grabbed a National Assembly seat and four provincial assembly seats in the May 2013 elections in the area.
Now, the QWP is contesting on 39 district seats, while the PTI is fielding hopefuls on 48 out of 49 seats at the same level.
ANP district president and former provincial law minister Arshad Abdullah said the party has been in close contact with people in the region for the last two years.
He was optimistic of ANP’s chances after partnering with JUI-F, adding that the JUI-F, had had a successful run from Charsadda in the 2013 General Elections.
He said Asfandyar Wali Khan himself, along with his son Aimal Wali Khan, have been visiting workers in the area and mobilising them.
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