The vote bank of nationalist Balochs will be divided in NA-268 Kalat-Mastung after the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the National Party fielded separate candidates for this National Assembly (NA) seat.
When contacted, official sources in the Balochistan election commission on Monday said a total of 25 candidates filed nomination papers for the said constituency, out of which 23 were accepted while two were rejected.
They further said National Party (NP) central leader Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Balochistan President Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, former chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani’s son Nawabzada Yadgar Raisani, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Abdul Ghaffoor Hadier, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former minister for state Ayatullah Durrani, JUI-N leader Sardarzada Mir Saeed Langov, Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) leader Gul Muhammad Baloch, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP) leader Muhammad Yunus Lehri, BNP-Awami leader Mir Ali Akbar Garganari, Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) former chairman Manzoor Baloch, BSO chief Malik Navid Dahwar and Mir Manzoor Hussain were among the candidates who had submitted their nomination forms for this constituency.
Other candidates who filed their forms for this seat include PML-Q leader and former provincial finance minister Mir Asim Kurd, Mir Muhammad Iqbal Zehri, and Mir Ahmed Chiltan.
Sources said the vote bank of nationalists Baloch voters would be divided as two nationalist parties have fielded their candidates in the constituency.
The candidates of BNP-M and NP have been contesting elections from this constituency for a long time, said sources, adding that both parties have considerable support in the constituency.
JUI-F also has its religious vote bank in this Brahvi speaking belt and former chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani and Nawab Sanaullah Zehri also wield influence, they added.
However, political observers view candidates from BNP-M and NP as major contenders. Other sources claimed Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani who had joined the PML-N would ask his supporters to vote for Sardar Sanaullah Zehri.
