Election 2018: Is Bilawal all set to revive the lost glory of Bhuttos?
PPP' chances for winning are meager, but Bilawal's induction in politics might be a good omen.
(WebDesk) - PPP in the wake of reviving itself has decided to have Bilawal Bhutto fight from three constituencies, which are NA-200, NA-246, and NA-8. First two of them are in Sindh while the third one belongs to KP. Following are the features of these constituencies to look into the PPP position in General Election 2013 and where the party stands now.
NA-200 (Larkana-I)
NA-200 (Larkana-I) is a newly-formed constituency of the National Assembly of Pakistan which comprises of Ratodero Taluka and some parts of Larkana district.
It came into being with the merger of various areas of NA-204 and NA-207.
"The fort of PPP"
Larkana has always been the political hub for PPP. This time Bilawal Bhutto is ready to test his luck from this constituency.
Also read: Bilawal announces to contest election from Larkana NA-200
On the other side, from NA-204 again PPP Muhammad Ayaz Soomro won with 50,128 votes.
In 2013, PPP won with a heavy mandate of 83,918 votes from NA-207. Faryal Talpur, sister of Asif Ali Zardari bagged 57.95 per cent votes percentage-wise.
Very hard-hitting to defeat PPP from Larkana district
In both of these constituencies, gaining this number of votes – setting aside the validity and genuineness of votes – can be called a landslide victory. In comparison to both of PPP’s heavyweights PML-F’s Mehtab Akbar Rashidi and PPP-SB’s Ghanva Bhutto could gain only 32,006 and 28,195 votes respectively.
Although there are bright chances of winning for Bilawal Bhutto from this constituency, the real challenge lies in fulfilling the needs of people. PPP failed despondently in the past in almost the entire Sindh.
Citadel of PPP but hub of unlimited social issues
Even the fortress of PPP Larkana could not bring good name to Sindh particularly and Pakistan generally. Kamran Khan in his show dated Feburary 8, 2017 explored pitiable condition the hub of PPP is in. He further interpolated that the provincial government could not provide the necessary details of the funds allocated for the district. According to him, the government could not provide the record of Rs31 billion to the Supreme Court.
NA-246 is majorly comprises of Lyari, an area PPP has been ruling ceaselessly. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be contesting from this constituency. Due to delimitation of 2018, Lyari has become the part of this constituency and Azizabad has been extracted. Still MQM-P has presence in the area.
Interesting thing to remember about this constituency is that it is the political hub of MQM. From 2002 till 2013, before its fragmentation, it never let anyone win from here. In the general elections of 2013, MQM’s Nabil Gabool won with quite an impressive number of 137,874 while PTI’s Amir Sharjeel could bag only 31,875. While PPP was nowhere in the race and could gain only 1,716 votes.
This time heavyweights from Sindh have been given duties to have Bilawal win the election from this constituency. PPP’s stalwarts who are running Bilawal’s election campaign include: Nabeel Gabol – a prominent politician who re-joined PPP – Aijaz Durrani, Sadia Javed, Ch. Shakeel, and Sadique Sherwani. Gabool’s existence in PPP has increased the party’s scope and will provide it an edge. This constituency can be called the combination of MQM’s and PPP’s citadels.
A strenuous task for PPP ahead even in Lyari
It is evident keeping in view the political scenario of Karachi and background of this constituency that winning from this constituency will be a challenging task for PPP as there are other parties too.
PTI, PSP, and MQM will give tough time to PPP even knowing the fact that Bilawal himself is contesting from this constituency.
The trend will be different this time as there are more stakeholders. Also people have tested PPP many times. There is a huge anger in Lyari with regard to the negative performance of PPP.
People are giving mix response regarding PPP’s performance in this constituency. In the following video, which is the part of Dunya News Survey conducted by Habib Akram, people give their opinion bluntly.
Bilawal on his election campaign in Lyari.
Winning from this constituency will be more difficult as compared to NA-200 whose situation is also similar to Lyari, but PPP’s influence – political and social – cannot be ignored in that. According to Election Survey, PPP is leading against PTI.
NA-8 Malakand District
Chairman of PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has another constituency to fight from and that is NA-8, District Malakand. Previously it was NA-35. This constituency covers Malakand district. In the general elections of 2013, the Chairman of Qoumi Watan Party Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao won this seat with the margin of some thousands votes. He bagged 37,005 votes while the runner-up of JUI-F got 33,815 votes. PPP’s Waseef ullah Khan could gain only 3,847 votes and stood at sixth number.
On the other side, PTI performed quite well in 2013 and received 30,058 votes. PPP, just like other parts of the country, diminished from KP too.
This constituency has remained the political hub for PPP for years. Since 1988 till 2013, masses of this area kept on supporting the candidates of PPP warmly, but this is not the case now. Although it got defeated multiple times but was shining on the political horizon and was a very active party.
Bilawal Bhutto desired to contest from this constituency in the wake of reviving PPP in KP. To what extent it would be successful, it is still not evident; only the results of election can explain the situation.
Written by: Junaid Ali Malik
