Elections in Azad Kashmir....continued

Following on from yesterday’s theme of Azad Kashmiri elections, the news from the Dadyal constituency is that the sitting MP has lost the seat. He had worked tirelessly for the region, with visible signs of development everywhere. Nevertheless, he lost, for the simple reason that he was deselected as his party’s candidate and stood as an independent.

Independents have an uphill task. Unless they have substantial, personal local following, built up over many years, it is difficult for them to compete with political parties. Political parties are more than the individual members who represent them. Even if people are unsure of the party candidate, or have never heard of him, his or her anchorage in a political party means a lot of the marketing needed to win is done: everyone has heard of the parties. With independents, there is a huge task of reaching every nook and cranny of the constituency with a message. They do not have the same advantage as parties, where the message can be centrally delivered.

Here in the UK, there are only a few examples of independent candidates winning in recent years. In most cases, much depended on the standing and charisma of the person concerned. In one case, people were so outraged by the closure a local hospital that they voted in a doctor who was opposed to the closure.

In the absence of extra-ordinary personalities or burning local issues, independents face a struggle.