The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has won 15 out of 20 seats in the Punjab by-election, putting on a strong show in Lahore, which was otherwise known as a rival PML-N stronghold.

The PML-N fielded four successful candidates.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi now has clear chances of becoming the Chief Minister of Punjab. After winning fifteen more seats, the PML-Q and PTI’s total has increased to 188 and the PML-N and its allies have 77 seats in the Punjab Assembly.

Currently, the PTI has 178 members and PML-Q has 10 seats. PTI’s candidate for chief minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would thus get 188 votes while the PML-N had 164 members, two of whom have resigned. The Speaker has accepted his resignation, but the Election Commission has not yet de-notified him.

If the resignations are accepted before July 22, then the number of PML-N members will become 162 and after adding the four new seats won in the by-elections, its total will go to 166. The PPP has 7 and Rah-e-Haq has one. By adding the four new independent MPAs, the total number becomes 178.

This means that there is no ostensible obstacle to Chaudhry Pervez Elahi becoming CM of Punjab but there is also the possibility that 4 independent members who supported Hamza Shahbaz as Chief Minister will vote for Chaudhry Pervez.

Chaudhry Pervez Elahi could become CM with 194 votes