Historic rivalries and enmity, as well the desire for power is more important for both parties it seems, than forging any real electoral alliances.
**Slim chance of PPP, PML-N seat adjustment
**
By Tariq Butt
ISLAMABAD: There are dim chances of “seat adjustment” between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Prominent leaders of the two parties concede that the seat adjustment, if it at all took place, would be limited to a few constituencies. They say that both sides value a joint strategy in certain high-profile constituencies, for example, where PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, its de facto prime ministerial candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed are contesting. But a serious problem faced by the PML-N and the PPP was what to do with their nominees, who had been given tickets for standing with them in hard times. They do not want to annoy such ticket holders. In their opinion, these contestants are running their election campaigns well. Generally, no major party becomes willing to withdraw its candidates despite poor performance in successive elections because it feels that by doing so it will be foregoing its claim to such seats in the future.
There is also a serious fear that the PML-N voters would be demoralised if its candidates in some constituencies are now withdrawn and they may not be willing to support the PPP nominees in these areas and vice versa. Thus, “seat adjustment” would turn out to be an exercise in futility. Although, the top leaders of the two parties have buried the hatchet and are prepared to play ball with each other to a certain limit, their workers do not yet fully share their sentiments. Somewhat bitterness caused between the PML-N and PPP on the question of polls boycott also widened the wedge between their workers. A blame game also crept in. However, the leaders of the two parties point to a number of constituencies of the national and provincial assemblies where “adjustment” will produce good results, leading to the defeat of their rivals.
There are many PML-Q contestants, including former federal ministers, whom Nawaz wants to rout to teach them a lesson for their “betrayal”, but this is not possible in the absence of seat adjustment with the PPP. Same is the case with the PPP. During his ongoing campaign, Nawaz plans to visit more than once the constituencies where “traitors” are in the run. He is soft on those PML-Q candidates, who maintained a low profile when he was facing the toughest time of his political career and is even willing to accept them back in the party.
