The study examines the reasons behind PTI's failure in the 2015 local body elections, highlighting issues such as poor candidate selection, lack of election campaign spirit, and organizational deficiencies at the grassroots level. Imran Khan's personal issues and inadequate voter mobilization further contributed to the party's disappointing performance, leading to significant losses against PML-N and PPP in Punjab and Sindh. The results prompted calls for intra-party elections and immediate reforms to revitalize the party ahead of the next general elections.

1. Why PTI failed in
Local Body Polls
2015?

2. This study aims to explain those factors which were responsible for
the failure of party in Local Bodies Elections.

3. 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.

4. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

9. • 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.

10. • 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

11. 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.

13. • 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.

14. Results of LG Polls 2015
in Punjab:
Punjab:
Political Party PTI Leading Party (PML-N)
Seats 879 3338
Percentage 11% 44%

15. Results of LG Polls 2015
in Sindh:
Sindh:
Political Party PTI Leading Party (PPP)
Seats 18 2034
Percentage 0.5% 64%

16. 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.

18. 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.