SWABI: Awami National Party (ANP) has been divided into two groups over differences between two of its key leaders in the district, and the upcoming election for the slot of district president will decide which group emerges stronger.

Party sources said that the grouping was caused over distribution of membership forms by former MNA Haji Rehmanullah.

They told Dawn on Sunday that Mr Rehmanullah led one group, and former district nazim Jehan Zeb Khan led the other. Mr Rehmanullah got elected twice as MNA on ANP ticket, and his son, Ameer Rehman also returned as MPA in 2002 elections.

Mr Rehmanullah, who remained ANP’s district president for 25 years dominated party politics with the support of Wali Bagh leaders. He also got Jehan Zeb ‘expelled’ from the party after May 2013 polls due to his links, according to the sources. They said Mr Zeb had joined Qaumi Watan Party, but left it after developing differences with its leadership.

The sources said Mr Rehmanullah’s dominance over the party affairs was because of the support of Azam Hoti. When contacted, Tamraiz Khan, former district general secretary, told Dawn that Mr Rehmanullah had launched campaign to recapture the district presidential slot. So far no one has announced to contest election against him, but the stage is set for a tough contest, he said.

Other key workers of the party told this correspondent that they had no interest in party affairs due to wrong policies of the district leaders and provincial leadership’s disinterest in taking notice of the injustices.

Workers in Jehan Zeb group said that they would convene a meeting very soon to discuss the upcoming district president election. They said a strategy would be devised to enlist voters’ support.

“We would nominate a candidate through consensus,” said a leader, adding there would be no smooth sailing for any body like in the past. “We are democratic people and will uphold democratic norms. If we really want to make the party strong in the district again, then there is need of hard work,” he stressed Political observers said if the ANP leadership wanted to strengthen the party in the district they should resolve differences between the local leaders. They said that role of Asfandyar Wali was critical in this regard.