Former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan and a close associate of the legendary Tajiq leader, late Ahmad Shah Massoud, Dr Abdullah Abdullah is expected to announce soon his candidature for the Afghan Presidency.
Dr Abdullah is also likely to make economic minister and financial expert, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal his running mate for the first Vice President and the Hazara warlord and former Mujahideen leader, Hajji Mohammad Mohaqiq his candidate for the Second Vice President.
The three will be the nominees of the newly formed coalition- Afghanistan Electoral Alliance (AEA). Dr Abdullah, a professional doctor had been very close to Gen.
Massoud and was by the side of the 'Lion of Panjshir' when he was blown up by the suicide bombers in Sept. 2001 just two days before the 9/11.
He also contested the last elections against President Hamid Karzai and almost made it before withdrawing at the second round accusing the Independent Election Commission (IEC) of poll rigging to support Karzai.
Mohaqiq has already resigned his Parliament seat to run for the vice presidentship coalescing ahead of the October 6 deadline to formally register candidacies.
Under the constitution of Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai cannot run for a third term in the April election. Karzai has also not formally endorsed a preferred successor.
With coalition bargaining under way, no prominent Afghan politician filed nomination papers since the registration began more than a week ago.
Votes by supporters of Mr. Mohaqiq, a major warlord during Afghanistan's civil war and a fierce opponent of the Taliban who narrowly survived an assassination attempt in June, were instrumental in securing Karzai's re-election in 2009.
Mohaqiq turned against Karzai in following years, accusing the Afghan President of failing to deliver on his promises, and has joined hands with opposition leaders.
Another big warlord and Pushtun leader, Abdus Rasool Rab Sayyaf has also announced his candidature. He has a record of fighting against the Russians and then a big player in the civil war, supporter and then opponent of the Taliban and accused of serious human rights violations.
But, the Alliance immediately seems to have hit a snag. The legendary and controversial Uzbek warlord, General Abdul Rashid Dostum who heads the Jumbish Milli Party (JMP), has expressed disagreement on the proposed nomination of Arghandiwal for the post of Senior Vice President.
He wants the Senior VP should be from his party JMP.
In light of the recent development regarding the nominee for the post of First Vice-President, , whose party is also a part of the alliance, expressed disagreement over candidacy claiming that his party enjoys the support of nearly three million voters and the nominee for the First Vice-President should be chosen from the JMP.
Gen. Dostum said he will take a final decision regarding his will to stay with the AEA within a week's time. "We will announce our final decision in another meeting. We all should have one goal, and we will announce our decision," Gen. Dostum added.
Previously, several coalitions were formed, but all of them collapsed due to disagreement and differences among its members.
Afghanistan Electoral Alliance (AEA) was formed last month at a gathering of Afghan political figures bringing many of the most prominent political parties and leaders in Afghanistan under one banner.
But the scrutiny of the list of the coalition parties reveals that it hardly has any Pushtun representation. Pushtuns are in majority (claiming about 40 percent of the total population) but the polling in the Pushtun dominated areas adjoining Pakistan are disturbed and are expected to have very less voter participation because of the Taliban violence.
The alliance partners include the Islamic People's Party (IPP), Wahdat-e-Islami Party, National Movement of Afghanistan (NMA), National Coalition of Afghanistan (NCA), National Front Party (NFP), Afghanistan Green Trend (AGT), Afghanistan Naween (AN), Hezb-e-Wahdat, Iqtidar-e-Millie, Itehad-i-Aqwam and Coordination Council of Arab People (CCAP).
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Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, leader of the NCA; Atta Muhammad Noor, Governor of Balkh province; Haji Mohammad Mohaqeq, leader of the IPP; Abdul Rasheed Dostum, head of the Junbesh Milli Party (JMP); Salahuddin Rabbani(Son of the slain former president Rabbani), acting head of the Jameyat Party (JP); Amrullah Saleh, former Director of the National Directorate of Security (NDS); Ahmad Zia Massood (yonger brother of Late Ahmad Shah Masoud and former Vice President with Karzai during his first term), head of the NFP; and Muhammad Younus Qanooni, a member of the JP, were some of the prominent political leaders signed the agreement to form the alliance.
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Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul and transition adviser Ashraf Ghani are also likely presidential candidates. Karzai's brother Qayum Karzai is also considering a presidential bid, as are several opposition politicians. The picture will get clear in the coming week with the deadline set for Sunday the sixth October.
