LAHORE: Although the deadline for filing candidaturesisonWednesday(today), the ruling PML-N has not yet invited applications from the party cadre to award ticket for the Senate seat vacated by Rafique Rajwana who has been appointe d governor.

The PML-N has neither invited applications nor formed any parliamentary board for award of ticket and,asaseniorpartyleader put it, the leadership seems to have decided to give the ticket to Saud Majeed, a politician from Bahawalpur.

Mr Majeed has been assisting Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza inoutlining governance policies for the last two years. He was also a strong contender for the office of governor but he was not appointed because of opposition from within the party (south Punjab) for not being a local.

Mr Majeed is most likely to win the seat unopposed for the PML-N enjoys an overwhelming majority in the Punjab Assembly, the electoral college for electing senators from Punjab quota. The opposition parties, including PTI and PPP, with zero chances of win have so far no plans to field theircandidatesforthelone seat.-Staff Reporter