The general candidates contesting LG elections express dismay over distribution of party tickets

Mandi Bahauddin (Sher Gondal): People in general and candidates contesting LG elections for chairman, vice chairman slots and general member seat particularly have expressed dismay over process of elections and distribution of party tickets.

To start with Halqabandi of union council wards were changed and their number was reduced after announcement of the election schedule which amounts to pre poll rigging, they said.

Candidates filed nomination papers for general seats of union councils but during scrutiny returning officers rejected some applications on the contention that wards mentioned in nomination papers were wrong not correct. Then the stage reached for allotment of patty tickets. MNAs, MPAs and other local leaders of PMLN granted party tickets to their favorites, ignoring the merit and work of the party members.

This annoyed the party workers and members and the applicants for general seats and chairman/Vice chairman did not with draw their papers. Now candidates from the same party are contesting election against each other. Similar case is with main parties that is PPP, PTI and PPP. Some    candidates who failed to get party tickets have demanded their fee deposited in the bank account of PMLN. They blamed PMLN government for making money out of LB elections.

They said the government first announced that those persons who deposited fee during the previously announced LB election would not deposit fee while submitting fresh nomination papers in the current election. But later they were asked to deposit security amount again before filing nomination papers. It may be mentioned that PMLN received for considering grant of ticket for contesting election on seat of chairman union council Rs 5000, vice chairman union council Rs 3000 and general councilor seat.

Total nomination papers filed with returning officers across the district are; 527 for Chairman and vice chairman UC against 80 seats, 1392 for union council general member seats against 480, 173 for Mandi Bahauddin MC general councilor against 33 seats, 89 for Phalia MC general councilor against 17 seats and 83 for Malakwal MC general councilor against 12 seats. After scrutiny and disposal of petitions by appellate authority symbols have been allotted to candidates and electioneering has intensified.

The candidates and their supporters are visiting voters of their localities door to door and seeking their votes in their favor. As usual they are making promises to change the destiny of their respective localities if succeeded by the voters.