BAHAWALNAGAR - Punjab chief minister's announcement to launch several educational and development projects in Bahawalnagar is perhaps aimed at getting victory in NA-189 consisting of PP-279 and PP-280 as it did in 1993 and 1997 elections.
The PML-N candidate clinched the National Assembly seat consecutively in 1993 and 1997 and the constituency was considered the party's stronghold. In Musharraf era, the PML-N leaders changed their loyalties and joined the PML-Q. But now they have jumped on the PML-N bandwagon again thereby perhaps strengthening the N-League.
Former federal minister Abdul Sattar Laleka's son Alam Dad Laleka joined PML-N and has claimed his nomination as the party's candidate for NA-189 seat. His father never lost elections throughout his career while contesting from more than one constituencies of Bahawalnagar. However, Alam Dad's mother was defeated from NA-189 in 2008 elections as Q-League candidate while Akhtar Ali Laleka, the N candidate, bagged 37,218 votes and became runner-up in 2008 election. The major cause for the PML-N candidate's defeat was the division of Joya clan's votes of 30,000. Shahida Laleka bagged 35,787 votes while the PPP's candidate, Mumtaz Gillani, bagged 49,678 votes and remained successful.
Earlier, former district nazim of Bahawalnagar, Mumtaz Matiana, jumped on climbed on the N bandwagon. Then he changed his loyalty and jumped on then official bandwagon of the PML-Q to become district nazim. Now he has again joined PML N. Also he is an aspirant to contest from the NA- 189.
The PML-N loyal workers including Sajjad Haider who faced political victimisation during the Musharraf regime, said that the leadership should recognise their sacrifices and give them preference to the new comers or turncoats. Arshad Kak, another N loyalist, expressed his regret over the party's organisational matters and said that N leadership should not allow the turncoats to climb on its bandwagon. PML-N local leader Aneesur Rehman Gillani, who faced political victimisation, said that workers are real strength of the party and their grievances should be addressed. The PML-N MPAs from PP-279 and PP-280 and their stalwarts have tarnished the party's image because of corruption in the constituencies. These MPAs are still claim to contest the upcoming election. At present, four politicians claim that they will contest for the NA-189 seat from PML-N platform including Mumtaz Matiana, Alam Dad Laleka, Akhtar Ali Laleka and Syed Qalandar Shah.
For PP-279 seat, MPA Rana Abdul Rauf, notorious in changing loyalty and holding a fake BA degree, Yasin Siddiqui, the district chairman of Baitul Mal, Bakhtiar Shah and Syed Qalander Shah claim that they will contest from the constituency on the party's ticket. For PP-280 seat, MPA Asif Mohal, Mohammad Yar Kamoka, Salman Mohal are the aspirants for the party ticket.