Why PTI failed in Local Body Polls

2015?

This study aims to explain those factors which were responsible

for the failure of party in Local Bodies Elections.

Local Body Polls: A Nightmare for PTI

The party could not performed well in the Local Government Polls for 2015. The election results were like a nightmare for the 19 year old party.

PTI emerged as rising party in 2011 when thousands of people attended its rally in Lahore.

In 2013 elections, PTI stood second largest party by vote and third largest party by seats.

It was biggest achievement for a party that gave poor performance in past elections. Now once again worst

situation came to the PTI on local bodies elections and it failed to win enough seats in the polls.

Local Body Polls exposed PTI • The Local Government Polls exposed “PTI”. It faced trouble in

selection of candidates for the seats of Chairman and Vice-Chairmen in many UCs.

• The PTI candidates who won the elections were having their own vote bank. The party had “nothing to do with the winning

candidates”. • PTI stood second in many UCs but its position in majority of

UCs

was third and less than 40 percent at overall which is not enough to win the election.

• The main reason for failure was “electables”. Electables always had troubled the PTI. The party

nominated electables who keep changing their loyalties. They did not bother to run the proper

election campaign and also influenced the decision making process.

• There was lack of spirit in the election campaigns even by its top leadership. NA-122 By-Polls were thrilling by-polls in the history of Pakistan. Aleem

Khan of PTI secured majority of votes in Gari Shahu area two months ago. But alarmingly, PTI lost UCs in

Gari Shahu as well in local polls.

• Why PTI lost the polls? How it failed to grab victory? The only thing which clicks in mind over this

question is “Lack of spirit among PTI leadership regarding polls”.

• Imran Khan’s divorce news with Reham Khan appeared on media when there were only two days left in first phase of polls. He went in silent mode

and elections preparations were affected badly. His opponents taking

advantage of the situation criticized him that a man who can not handle his marriage how he would handle matters of this country. So this move had a lasting impact on the

minds of voters. • The party could not sensitize its workers and voters on

election day. The party candidates failed to bring voters to the polling station and urge them to cast vote in

their favor.

• Moreover, people preferred to vote the candidate of ruling party. PML-N candidates campaigned properly and in

organized manner. They were knocking the doors of the voters since morning and provided them the transport to

the polling station. • Despite big claims, party failed to nominate clean candidates. Most of candidates were awarded tickets

considering their financial status. People were annoyed over these nominations.

Results of LG Polls 2015 in Punjab:

Punjab:

Political Party PTI Leading Party (PML-N)

Seats 879 3338

Percentage 11% 44%

Results of LG Polls 2015 in Sindh:

Sindh:

Political Party PTI Leading Party (PPP)

Seats 18 2034

Percentage 0.5% 64%

Asad Omar during a TV pogramme admitted that the party was lacking organization at grass roots level.

This was the reason that it could not performed well in Local Body Polls.

Imran Khan also confessed that “PTI was not mobilized at grassroots level. There is change on one side and

“status quo” on the other side”. Imran Khan has announced holding direct intra-party elections in all

provinces.

The results of elections were alarming for the party leadership. Imran Khan took a good decision to hold intra-party polls. Hardly two years are left for the next general

elections. There is an immediate need to revive the party, as graph of PTI is obvious in local elections so if PTI wants to dent the vote bank of PML-N, it will have to reform every

thing and also should organize the party at grass roots level.