Muralitharan to join SLFP

SHANIKA SRIYANANDA

The tug-of-war between the Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan and the UPFA Parliamentarian Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan seems to be intensifying. with majority of TMVPers in the line to take SLFP membership, Vinyagamoorthy Muralitharan, MP said that their main intention was to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who can solve the national problem soon.

Muralitharan, the LTTE’s former Eastern military leader, said that the people of the East were happy with the development and resettlement programs of the UPFA Government.

Few weeks after he was sworn in as a UPFA Parliamentarian he announced his decision to ‘erase off’ the word ‘Tiger’ and the ‘Tiger’ symbol from the TMVP amidst strong protests of the Chief Minister Chandrakanthan.

Muralitharan said the only politician that could resolve the problems faced by Tamils was President Rajapaksa and majority of the Easterners, including the intellectuals were in support of the UPFA government. “I have decided to join the SLFP according to their wish and their advice,” he said.

He told the Daily News that as the world is in favour of the President’s efforts to crush LTTE terrorism and rebuild a new peaceful nation, it is the duty of all people to strengthen his hands to end terrorism.

He said that small political parties could not find solutions to most of the burning issues that need a strong political commitment.

“The only party which fits into this category is the SLFP and that is why I have decided to join the SLFP. Over 95 per cent of the Easterners are with me”, he said adding that all TMVP political offices in the Eastern region would be soon converted into SLFP offices.

According to Muralitharan, senior TMVP members such as Mangala Master, Iniya Bharathi, Jeyam and Markan are to take the SLFP membership. Muralitharan said that he was no longer a TMVP member and Chief Minister Chandrakanthan and few of his supporters will only remain in the TMVP. “I hope he and his team will also join the SLFP, soon,” he said.

The TMVP group, which is to take the SLFP membership will meet President Rajapaksa soon to discuss their political future.

When contacted, the TMVP authorities, said that the TMVP is a strong political party and except Muralitharan no other member would join the SLFP. According to TMVP sources, the Party has decided to expel its leader from the party.