QURGHON TEPPA, February 4, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Pre-election race is progressing in Khatlon province as the People’s Democratic Party (PDPT) has joined the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) in agitation campaign in the area.

Eshonbouri Esanqulov, head of the executive committee of the PDPT organization for Khatlon, told Asia-plus today that registered candidates from their party have begun to hold meetings with voters.  “We have prepared the schedule of meetings with voters and our candidates are meeting with their voters in accordance with this schedule,” Esanqulov said, noting according to their preliminary estimates, the PDPT is expected to win more than 80 percent of votes in the province.

“Except PDPT and IRPT, other political parties do not have their primary organizations, and therefore, the main struggle for seats in parliament will be between the PDPT and IRPT,” said the head of the PDPT organization in Khatlon, “But the Islamic Revival Party does not have so many members in Khatlon; that is why we are sure that we will win more than 80 percent of votes here.”

In the meantime, the IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri also stressed in an interview with Asia-Plus on January 31 that his party will struggle seriously for votes in Khatlon.