• Sloganeering not enough
• The changing political scenario

So far it was taken for granted that whatever coalition government comes into existence after the next elections would be headed by one of the two major parties, PPP or the PML(N). With the emergence of the Imran Khan factor, this can no more be guaranteed. Both the traditional rivals suffer from the factor of incumbency. They can claim with some justification that they failed to deliver during their earlier stints in power as their tenures were repeatedly cut short and they were required to work under the constraints imposed by an army dominated system.
For a while after the 2008 elections, many accepted the excuse that most of the ills faced by the country like power and gas shortages and inflation were the legacy of the Musharraf regime. After three years and a half, the excuse is no more valid. Bad governance, lack of financial discipline, corruption and target killings in Karachi are often blamed on the incompetence of the PPP and the concessions it has given to its coalition partners to remain in power. Equally bad governance in Punjab is widely ascribed to the CM’s penchant for retaining all powers in his own hands. He hounded out his coalition partners and continues to micromanage the affairs of the province through hand picked bureaucrats instead of letting the ministers run their departments. While many expect the CM to concentrate on running an efficient administration he has decided to embark on an agitation, a highly unusual thing for the chief executive of a province.
To many who thronged the public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan, Imran represented a break from dynastic politics and promise of good governance and clean administration. Whether significant sections of population in other provinces also share the view would become clear from the public meetings at Karachi and Peshawar. A number of political figures from other parties are meditating to join the PTI which has lacked electable candidates.
One is yet not certain whether Imran can also mobilise the support of the working class, the urban poor and the rural masses. He has yet to spell out how he intends to redress the decades old grievances of the smaller provinces. One thing however is certain: the two major parties now face a serious challenge from an unexpected quarter.

A dark horse?