Since the beginning of election campaign season early last month, the process of make and breaks among political parties have been taking momentum. Initially, there were eleven presidential contenders approved by Independent Election Commission (IEC), now it is nine. Earlier this month, President Hamid Karzai's elder brother Qayyum Karzai who had also nominated for the April 5th presidential election withdrew from the race in favor of Zalmai Rassoul, ex-foreign minister of the country. On Sunday, another runner Abdul Rahim Wardak ex-defense minister also dropped out.

While the reason behind Qayyum Karzai’s withdrawal is quite evident, Rahim Wardak did not say why he was withdrawing but said that he was not supporting any other candidate. It is believed that Zalmai Rassoul in whose favor Qayyum Karzai withdrew has support from within the palace. Certain circles have called this a direct meddling of the government in the election process. Nonetheless, no political group has registered any kind of compliant in this regard in Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC).

The decision by Rahim Wardak is quite reasonable as he was not considered a front runner. In the next few months some more candidates are expected to do the same. The lesser the number of candidates the better it will be for the voters. However, there are chances that many votes will go void as the names, numbers and symbols of candidates who pull out of the presidential race will remain on the ballot papers that have already been printed by the IEC.

It is not difficult for many of the remaining nine presidential contenders to predict their victory or failure in the upcoming election. It would be better if they choose to withdraw. By doing so they will save their and people’s time.

Meanwhile, it is important that the candidates who wish to withdraw must take the decision in the best interest of the country, not under pressure from any particular group. Inferences in the elections whether it is from government or any other national or international entities are illegal in the light of electoral and constitutional laws of the country. It is the core responsibility of the Independent Election Commission to expose anyone trying to meddle in the elections regardless of his position if it wants people not to doubt its autonomy.