Requiem for the grand alliance

The Opposition grand alliance that was ushered in with much eloquence, pomp and publicity has breathed its last. The United National Front and the JVP, the two main constituents have parted ways. Its total life span is hardly more than two months.

The protagonists in the 'Believable Change' drama enacted by the alliance assured the voters that it was base on trust for which word of mouth was more than adequate.

The trust has now vanished like a line drawn on water.

The General who was portrayed as the saviour of the nation was unceremoniously kicked out by the UNF that wanted him to be the subordinate of Ranil Wickremesinghe. As would be expected the offer of the Deputy Leader of the UNF was rejected by the General with scorn. It is now apparent that he was used by the UNF to test the electoral waters.

The JVP which claimed authorship for the grand alliance was also forced to cling on to the General's coat to save face. The General was also compelled to throw out the New Democratic Front despite it providing him a safe haven to contest the Presidency.

It is now clear that the grand alliance that put up Fonseka as the Presidential contender was not historic as claimed by its constituents but only a marriage of convenience to conform to the electoral legal requirements.

It is sad that the local and international media that gave wide publicity to the launching and progress of the grand alliance have maintained a stoic silence over its sudden demise. Had they reported the demise it would have given the lie to their earlier claims. Retraction is not their credo.

Political formations, if they are to last the test of time should represent the interests of classes and strata of society. They cannot be built on the individual personal wishes of individuals.

Such personal individual wishes could succeed only to the extent that they coincide with the interests of the people whom they claim to represent. This is a basic factor that the JVP in particular should have known as it claims adherence to promoting the class struggle in society on behalf of the working masses.

The demise of the grand alliance only means that it was based on pure personal hatred of the incumbent President and nothing else. That is why throughout the election campaign it gave priority to attack the President and his family even relegating to the backyard their single point agenda of abolishing the Executive Presidency.

The people, by their wise verdict on January 26 have shown a higher political acumen than the politicians of the Opposition. It is clear that the Sri Lankan voter is much more educated and sensitive to the political issues that interest him.

The second stage of the magadi natakaya or the empty drama that is enacted by the Opposition will be played on April 8 when the general election would be held. The second marriage of convenience entered into by the General and the JVP would end either in the destruction of the JVP or the transformation of the JVP into yet another bourgeois political party with a militaristic adventurer at its head.

It is a pity that a party which inspired thousands of youth to dedicate their lives and even to pay the supreme sacrifice for a socialist future and a better world meeting such an ignominious end.

The pendulum has swayed full hundred and eighty degrees. The JVP has swung from extreme left to extreme right.

As for the UNF it will see further erosion of its vote base at the general election. The dream of founding an alternative to the UPFA would remain a distant dream for some more time.

As for the UPFA the two-thirds majority it expects may not be that distant, thanks to the division in the ranks of the Opposition. It would no longer be a surprise if it gets two-thirds and poor JRJ would have to turn in the grave for he was sure that the Constitution that he engineered would not allow such an eventuality.

The TNA, the northern partner in the grand alliance is also in bits and pieces. It is reaping what it has sown by linking its fate with that of the LTTE. Now that the LTTE is no more it has lost all its focus and orientation.

One thing is certain the general election 2010 would open new possibilities and new opportunities for a new beginning and a new orientation.