Manoeuvring is at its peak and the deras of politicians are humming with activity as the two major contenders — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf square off for the battle to capture Gujranwala in the 2018 general election — a PML-N stronghold.

The PTI candidates say they are out to exploit their arch-rival’s failure to ensure decent health and education facilities, cleanliness and safe drinking water to the citizens of Gujranwala district during the past 10-year all-powerful rule. The PML-N candidates on the other hand are banking on the political clout created over decades of rule and personal appeal and accusing Imran Khan of fielding lotas (turncoats). At least three newcomers have got PTI tickets to contest from as many national assembly constituencies in Gujranwala.

Take a look: When pirs seek people’s blessings

A total of six National assembly and 14 Punjab Assembly seats are at stake in the district. The latest delimitation of constituencies after census has cost Gujranwala one NA seat.

As the tickets are finalised and the mist clears, candidates are warming up to a hectic, four-week campaign to woo people wielding some influence at local level. Simultaneously, coordinators and supporters are busy in assigning duties for the election campaign. The directions have urgency about them as a coordinator works against time to promote his candidate. “What can you do for me?” he speaks intensely into the phone. “Ensure the banners, portraits and flexes are hoisted in a good number in the villages. Just let me know how many workers you need.”

Change is in the air. The people have had a bad experience with the cruel and corrupt rule by the Sharif family over the last three decades — the memories of the last five-year stint in Punjab as well as in the federal government fresh in the voters’ minds.

S.A. Hameed, the PTI candidate from PP-58

The cellphone does make life much easier for the campaigners, coexists as it does with the old features that have been an integral part of the election. Like biradaris, which are still an en bloc temptation, the candidates cannot resist trying to sway in their favour. The biradari figures prominently in discussions as deras come alive, hosting strategists advising the assembly aspirants on how to get through to victory against equally well-equipped opponents.

Other activity, such as door-to-door visits, corner meetings and small public gatherings, is also picking up slowly, with the hot weather dictating what is most convenient at which time of the day. The canvassing is by and large limited to personal indoor meetings during the day but as the sun sets, candidates are out in the open to address public meetings.

“Change is in the air. The people have had a bad experience with the cruel and corrupt rule by the Sharif family’ over the last three decades — the memories of the last five-year stint in Punjab as well as in the federal government fresh in the voters’ minds,” says S.A. Hameed, the PTI candidate form PP-58. He had parted ways with the PML-N before the 2013 election but lost his election in a National Assembly seat to his old party on a PTI ticket.

Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique Mehar, a businessman, who defected from the PPP after losing the NA election in 2013, is PTI’s NA-81 (Gujranwala-III) candidate. He believes that the district is no more a stronghold of the PML-N. He says the PML-N members of the assemblies had failed utterly to serve the masses and the people were now compelled to opt for Imran Khan and his party.

Mr Mehar says the PML-N representatives’ ‘hallmark performance’ can be summed up by a look around at Gujrawnala city. “There are piles of garbage on city roads,” he tells Dawn. “The air is polluted by the burning of garbage. The health and education facilities are inadequate and the people are without safe drinking water. This is debilitating the people physically and economically.”

These are not the best of times for the PML-N, acknowledged some of those who were asked to comment on the election campaign so far. A man who identified himself as a N-Leaguer said it will not reflect well on the PTI if it failed to cash in on the situation.

But all is not ideal in the PTI camp as well. The party is faced with internal rift. PTI Gujrwanwala district president Rana Naeemur Rehman outrightly slams the award of the party ticket from NA-80 (Gujranwala-II) to newcomer Mian Tariq Mahmood (who defected from the PML-N).

Mr Rehman was candid in his statement: “Why should my workers and I support a candidate against whom we had struggled during the past five years? Just a couple of months ago, Tariq Mahmood was found literally scolding Imran Khan. Here he is contesting on a PTI ticket.”

Blaming the ‘blunder’ on “fraud” party surveys, the angry PTI office-bearer says he “will wait for July 25 to see who votes for this candidate who is not even clean.” Having said that Rana Naeemur Rehman will continue to work for the party ‘with a heavy heart’ waiting for the day when he will be able to effectively convey to Imran Khan the sense of injustice he felt over the grant of the ticket to Mr Mahmood.

Among others who have been denied the PTI ticket is former PPP Punjab president Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, who joined the PTI last year. While the loss of one NA seat in the district after fresh delimitation may be the one reason for this denial, it has reportedly left Mr Warraich frustrated and he is now planning to contest the election as an independent.

Besides the PTI and PML-N, the Mutahida Majlis-i-Amal has fielded candidates from most of the national and provincial assembly constituencies. A relatively new party “Aam Log Party” has also fielded its candidates from three national and four provincial assembly seats. It says the elite can neither understand nor resolve problems of the poor masses. Party chairman Nasim Sadiq says the party campaigning with the slogan “Common people to serve common people”.

The stage is set for electioneering and the caretaker government is eager to ensure that the election code of conduct is not violated. The district returning officer as well as the commissioner and the deputy commissioner have explained to all parties and candidates the code of conduct is to be strictly adhered to. “Follow the code of conduct, or the law will take its course,” a clear warning was issued along with an assurance that every genuine complaint will be addressed.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2018