October it is
It would have been with a hint of satisfaction that the ruling party’s core committee decided to hold the polls in October this year instead of 2013. Ever since the incumbent government came into power, it has been the subject of many rumours of its premature demise. Talk of the government not making it to a single year morphed into talk of “mid-term polls” and this mutated into the grapevine resonating with rumours of polls following an ouster in the third year. None of that worked; the government stayed put. In the end, the opposition will remember in disdain, because that is what they saw fit.
And the move is conciliatory. The opposition wanted polls ahead of schedule and ones held in October qualify. Though there is usually much rhetoric against the government for wanting to maximise its time in office (after, gasp, winning the polls!) it has let another possible couple of months go willingly.
Before the thrill of October come the senate polls early this year. For the first time ever, both halves of the senate would have been elected in the same sitting national government. Yielding the ruling party a majority in the upper house would also translate into legislative leverage many years into the next government; something that could always come in handy if they are in opposition next time.
The issue of the general polls is going to be a tricky affair. Law and order, never a dream in the republic, is going to be far from ideal in these times of terror. Liberal parties, like the PPP and specially the ANP, have been made the target of militant groups in the last polls and the upcoming ones are also going to be marred with violence attacks. It is of paramount importance for the law enforcement agencies to ensure a peaceful and safe election and pre-election campaign for all political parties.