PPP, PTI struggle to win over communities ahead of LG polls.

DADU -- Both Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) are endeavouring to drum up support of as many electables and communities as they can ahead of the local government elections. Their efforts have met with success in certain constituencies but no major change in results is likely as just a few communities (braaderies) have so far agreed to change their loyalty.

Syed Hajan Shah, who wields considerable influence in Bhan Syedabad town of Dadu district, on Tuesday agreed to actively support the candidates chosen by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Hajan Shah had been a close aide to former Sindh CM Syed Abdullah Shah, the father of Syed Murad Ali Shah. He had distanced himself from local PPP leaders about two years ago when CM Shah had stopped accommodating his inputs in the political and other affairs of Bhan Syedabad, a town very close to CM Shah's residence in Wahur village. Although Hajan Shah did not quit the party and preferred to remain sidelined, the CM felt that his community's support in the upcoming LG elections might be essentially needed as Sindh United Party (SUP) was making inroads in parts of Bhan Syedabad as well as its surrounding areas.

Sources said that PPP MNA Sardar Sikandar Ali Rahpoto and some other notables from Sehwan taluka managed to bring Hajan Shah to the negotiating table when CM Shah visited the area on Monday.

A meeting between Murad Ali Shah and Hajan Shah in the presence of several other known PPP figures was held in the Autaq (guests' room) of CM's private secretary Saleem Bajari in Sehwan. Hajan Shah agreed to shun his differences with the CM.

On Tuesday, he started taking part in PPP candidates'...