The PPP and the PML-Q are all set to finalise a seat-adjustment formula for the next general elections immediately after the budget. The seat adjustment between the two parties is part of the power-sharing deal between them but they are yet to work on the details of the deal’s clauses.
“Soon after the budget, leadership of both parties will sit together to identify constituencies where they will contest the next general elections in the form of an alliance, that is, by not fielding their candidates against each other,” a PML-Q leader said. A source said that according to a general understanding between the two parties, the PPP and the PML-Q would not field candidates against each other’s sitting MNAs in the upcoming general elections.
“The PPP and the PML-Q will field joint candidates in the next elections against the sitting PML-N MNAs. In all such constituencies where the PML-N won elections in 2008, the last election’s runners up either from the PPP or the PML-Q will contest the next elections,” the source said. He said that the top command of the PPP and the PML-Q wanted to finalise the seat-adjustment formula for the next elections at the earliest so that a calculated election campaign could be launched through development works.
“Once the parties finalise the seat-adjustment formula, only that party and its leaders/parliamentarians will launch development projects in any constituency which has to contest the next polls from that particular constituency and the other party will stay on the back seat,” said the source. The source said after June, all PPP and PML-Q MNAs would be granted massive development funds by the federal government to secure seats in the next general elections.
“After the budget 2011-12, Senior Minister for Defence Production and Industries Pervaiz Elahi will permanently sit in his would-be office at State Guest House in Lahore to muster support for the in-house change in the Punjab Assembly while matters relating to defence production will be looked after by Minister of State Sardar Bahadur Ahmed Khan Sihar and Adviser to the Prime Minister Raja Bashrat will run the affairs of the industries with full authority from Elahi,” the source said.
PPP, PML-Q set to finalise seat-adjustment for next polls
