The enthusiastic campaign of Pindi for local bodies elections have transformed the city into a Grand Mela as roads, streets, houses and vehicles are decorated with colourful election symbols, stickers, banners and billboards to win support.
Some keen observers have noticed more festivity, excitement, zeal and zest in the ongoing election campaign in Rawalpindi district, particularly in city as compared to the past campaigns for local bodies’ elections.
“Of course, people are participating in the elections with more excitement and passion, however the credit goes to the youth who are leading the elections campaigns for their favourites,” Abdul Ghayoor Butt, a candidate for Chairmanship of a Pinidi Union Council remarked.
Butt, who has a long history of contesting local bodies’ elections for various positions, said “I have never witnessed such enthusiastic campaign earlier, admitting that all the contesting parties have been passionately involved in it.
The District Election Commission has already finalized arrangements for conducting elections in 174 Union Councils (UC) of the district including 46 of the city. The ongoing election campaign is scheduled to end on Thursday night while the polls would be held on Saturday, 5 Dec.
“Who wins and who loses? This is what we will hear later, but this is time to enjoy and I with my friends go in party functions, organized particularly at night times,” Engineer Ahsan Ilyas said, without predicting whether his candidate wins or not.
The contesting candidates arrange special foods and drinks for their respective supporters. `Biryani’, `Halwa-puri’, `Dhai Bhallay’, `Gajraila’ and Kashmiri tea have become common recipes relished by the supporters of these candidates during functions.
“The LG poll campaign has virtually become a popular festivity for us and we celebrate every moment of it,” said Muhammad Ali, while preparing his vehicle to participate in a rally organized by his favourite candidate.
A businessman, Farhan Abbas said that a little times has left in the end of this campaign, which is going to stop on Thursday night. “But these two days are very important for me to enjoy the hustle and bustle in the city.”
The campaign has witnessed some new trends, as in parts of city some contesting candidates have been organizing candle walks while others make rounds of the streets in cars and motorbikes or organize music-cum dance gatherings in front of their election camps.
Imran Hayat, who is contesting for chairmanship in a UC of Satellite Town, was of the view that supporters of all the contesting candidates have been busily involved in campaigns.
Even minors could be seen marching, with flags and banners, chanting slogans to awaken those who are still sitting aside to involve in such campaigns.
