TEHRAN Tomorrow, an important election will be held in the Islamic Republic. Considering the intense rivalry between the candidates, it is expected that some 25 to 30 million Iranians eligible to vote will go to the polls.

Although 10 candidates are competing in the 8th presidential election, the public opinion polls indicate that the main competition is between Ahmad Tavakoli and Mohammad Khatami.

The 2nd Khordad Front had felt that it would not face a serious rival in this round of elections; thus, it made every effort during the past year to achieve victory in an active competition. However, it could not force its main rival, the minority faction, to field a candidate.

The 2nd Khordad Front is now feeling serious concern because it is facing some independent candidates in the forthcoming election, for which it had not got prepared. For the 2nd Khordad Front, defeat or slim victory over independent candidates will be very humiliating.

The front had previously claimed that all the candidates except Khatami belonged to their rival faction. Therefore, they should not have expressed concern over the split of votes among those candidates, but their propaganda now clearly indicates their great worry.

Considering that President Khatami is very well known to the people, he did not need extravagant publicity. But the distribution of his colorful posters and publicity pamphlets during the past few days shows that the 2nd Khordad Front, four years after its formation, has become very vulnerable, as the present minority faction was vulnerable four years ago.

In view of the current circumstances, the minority faction, which took a passive stance on the presidential election and did not field a candidate for fear of another defeat, has now entered the arena in an opportunistic manner and is making some statements to take advantage of the position of the independent candidates.

Whatever the result of tomorrow's election will be, it will indicate that no political current in Iran can monopolize political power, and if it insists on its monopolistic attitude, it will pave the way for its own defeat. This is a bitter experience now facing the 2nd Khordad Front.

During the past few weeks, in a campaign that heralded a new approach to electioneering in the country, the nominees put forward a range of ideas and plans for the country during the next four years.

The IRIB, in a move to emphasize its impartiality in the elections offered equal air and viewing time to all candidates. Although the TV programs by the candidates were instrumental in making them better known individually to the voters, the conspicuous lack of debate between the nominees was the most significant shortcoming of the televised electoral campaign.

Although all the candidates almost in unison declared the economic situation of the country to be the most urgent priority of the new administration, none managed to put forward an explicit, viable and workable blueprint to the public.

Many promises were however given including, cheap housing and education, full employment, support for industries and exports, strengthening the national currency, lowering bank rates and controlling inflation, and many other such promises.

The people have been informed by the candidates, quite frankly and openly, of the country's ailment in almost every sphere of the national life. None, however has announced a specific prescription. When the new president is elected, he should take a general consensus of all the proposals put forward by each candidate and consolidate them into a workable plan of action. He may even do well to consider utilizing the knowledge and experiences of his rivals in various executive positions in which they should have the opportunity to serve the people of the country.

Various opinion polls conducted by various governmental and nongovernmental organizations show the front runners to be Khatami and Tavakoli. Whoever wins the election will become the president of the whole country. The people's hopes and aspirations will be entrusted to his hands. He should make every endeavor to serve the people honestly, faithfully and to the utmost of his abilities. Toward building a better Islamic Iran and providing for the general welfare of every Iranian, we wish him luck, success and our very best wishes.