With Ali Amin Gandapur's surprise resignation as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the political gears are grinding once again.

While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Sohail Afridi as his successor , what seems like a simple passing of the baton is quickly turning into a high-stakes political race.

Behind the Scenes, Ahead of the Vote

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is expected to formally accept Gandapur's resignation and call a session of the KP Assembly. That session will mark the official start of the new chief ministerial election process.

But here's the catch; winning the nomination is the easy part; winning the vote might be a whole different race.

The Numbers Don't Lie

The KP Assembly comprises 124 seats, requiring a candidate to secure at least 73 votes to become Chief Minister. On paper, PTI holds ''92 seats'', a seemingly comfortable lead. But the reality is murkier: ''35 of those members are independents'' who are not legally bound to follow party lines.

To complicate matters further, ''22 resignations or curtailments'' have reportedly been submitted, signaling possible rifts within PTI's ranks.

Also Read: Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Says KP Paying the Price for Space Given to Militants

On the flip side, the ''opposition commands 53 seats.'' If they can attract just 20 additional votes; particularly from independents disillusioned with PTI's inner workings, "Afridi's lead could vanish overnight." Opposition leader Dr. Abdullah has already convened an emergency meeting to strategize around a unified challenger.

Afridi's Ground Game

In the face of growing uncertainty, Sohail Afridi isn't waiting idly. Over the past 24 hours, he's launched a flurry of meetings with Speaker Babar Saleem, ministers, and party stalwarts. PTI leadership is scrambling to close ranks and avoid any vote-splitting, applying pressure and promises in equal measure to keep their bloc intact.

Opposition on the Move

While PTI consolidates, the opposition is actively wooing independents and exploring potential alliances that could tilt the scales.

With enough defections or swing votes, they could not only challenge PTI's candidate, but possibly snatch the win altogether.

Crossroads or Finish Line?

For Sohail Afridi, this is more than just a leadership transition, it's a political stress test. The outcome depends on whether PTI can overcome its internal fractures, hold its loose coalition together, and outmanoeuvre an opposition that smells opportunity.

Afridi may be the front-runner, but unless he secures the right numbers at the right time, he may find himself at the starting line of a race he thought he'd already won.

However, political uncertainty continues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid speculation that unless Governor Faisal Karim Kundi formally accepts Ali Amin Gandapur's resignation, he will still be considered the chief minister.

The question now is whether Sohail Afridi will get a chance to contest for the post or if the current hype will fade with Gandapur resuming his duties as chief minister.

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