More parties to join the fray for PC poll

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: More political parties are expected to join the fray for the Provincial Council elections in the East slated for May 10 in the backdrop of the successful conclusion of the Batticaloa Local Government polls.

Major political parties including the UNP and TNA withdrew from the race in Batticaloa citing security concerns, but according to all accounts the poll concluded peacefully with reported cases of election violations being at an all time low.

The UNP is expected to arrive at a final decision tomorrow whether it will enter the fray Party, General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said.

According to information the UNP is most likely to contest the polls since UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to boycott the Batticaloa local poll had come in for much flak among the party rank and file.

Meanwhile, the UPFA has already made an open invitation to forces with similar goals to join hands in contesting the Provincial Council polls under one banner.

According to sources, the move has garnered much support with several parties professing interest to form a grand alliance with the UPFA.

The TMVP which swept the board in the Batticaloa local polls is most likely to join hands with the UPFA, according to its spokesman Azath Moulana. According to him the party hierarchy is expected to meet during the week to arrive at a final decision.

The final outcome according to Moulana will depend on the UPFA, response to issues such as development goals, eliminating terrorism and appointing a Tamil as the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, according to TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran the party is expected to take a final decision within this week as soon as its leader R. Sampanthan arrives from a trip abroad.

But according to insiders the party is most likely to contest the elections considering the adverse impact on its popularity if it decides to refrain from joining the race. The SLMC too has extended a call to other Muslim factions to join hands to enhance it’s chances at the polls.

According to General Secretary Hassen Ali SLMC obtained 81 per cent of muslim votes at the Batticaloa Local Polls and more parties under its banner would mean more seats in the Provincial Council with more clout for Muslims.

There is also speculation that a marriage between the SLMC and UNP is on the cards for the polls with a few other parties too putting their weight behind such a move.

According to Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake the JVP has put forward a series of demands if it is to consider contesting the polls with the implementation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution ahead of elections foremost among them.

It is said the PLOTE, EPDP and EPRLF which contested as a joint alliance at the concluded Batticaloa Local polls is contemplating either to go the same course or join hands with the UPFA at the elections.