The role of religious seminaries in electoral politics: a case study of District Mardan, Pakistan

This paper is an attempt to understand the role of religion and religious seminaries in electoral politics in Shergarh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This paper concentrates on two of the most famous seminaries in the area, which are aligned with Jamiat Ulema Islam and Jamaat-e-Islami. The research seeks to do so by investigating the networks between how these institutions conducted their education and the region's political environment. To achieve the results, this study uses a mixed methods approach with questionnaires as well as in-depth interviews with different stakeholders (students, educators, and local political figures). It provides a full understanding of how religious teachings are related to the political scenario and electoral outcomes. The indoctrination at the seminaries matters to voter behaviour and party preference. These seminaries are important venues for disseminating political messages and framing issues in a religious context that resonates with the local population. This indoctrination within these institutions can directly affect how politics is done and how the elections are conducted. The study makes a further contribution to the understanding of how the process of political socialization takes place in these seminaries.