NPC polls: To hold or not to hold …
May 3, 2013, 8:49 pmNo election has so far been a problem for the UPFA since 2005 thanks to a debilitated Opposition in total disarray. It has managed to keep its vote bank intact and score impressive electoral victories consecutively. But, the same cannot be said about the northern PC polls to be held in September. That election which the government is under pressure to hold will be a contest between the UPFA and the TNA––two parties representing different brands of ethno nationalism.
The run-up to the northern polls has seen some interesting developments. The government which defeated the LTTE is reported to be mulling over the idea of fielding some of the prominent Tigers in custody in a bid to woo the northerners. This move has come in for severe criticism from some quarters. The TNA has ditched the Tigers in captivity but it is doubtful whether it has abandoned LTTE ideology if the utterances of some of its stalwarts are any indication.
The government has drawn heavy flak for an alleged move to field former LTTE spokesman, Daya Master, as the UPFA’s chief ministerial candidate, though there has been no official confirmation of such an arrangement. It is being argued that the government should emulate the TNA, which is planning to have educated candidates on its list. Yes, the northerners deserve a better deal and it is hoped that they will have some decent councillors unlike political riff-raff their southern counterparts are burdened with at all levels. But, interestingly, there was hardly any difference between the roles played by Daya Master and the TNA politicians while Prabhakaran was alive and kicking; all of them served as spokesmen for the LTTE, didn’t they? The government, no doubt, should try to rope in better candidates than former Tigers, but ironically those who are opposing Daya Master’s alleged candidature once had no qualms about recognising the LTTE which did not have representation even in a single local government body as the sole representative of the Tamils; they also demanded that the Tigers be given parity of status in talks with the State!
The northern polls or at least the government’s offer to conduct them has had a deleterious impact on the ruling coalition’s unity with some of its prominent ministers striking a discordant note. Their contention has been that the outcome of that electoral contest will lead to a situation where the LTTE and its apologists may be able to gain politically what they failed to achieve militarily. But, everything won’t be hunky-dory for the government’s rivals either.
The TNA has had to settle for something that the LTTE rejected lock, stock and barrel nearly two decades ago. President Chandrika Kumaratunga, it may be recalled, asked Prabhakaran to eschew violence and take over the Northern Province without elections for a period of ten years, but to no avail. Prabhakaran wanted Eelam—nothing else. He who pursues the stag, it is said, regards not the hare.
The Provincial Council system has become a total failure and the TNA which stands a better chance of winning the northern PC election than any other party will realise, after victory, how difficult it is to live up to people’s expectations with opposition to its rule emerging from within its stronghold. It is already experiencing internal tussles. Hence, the demand for an interim administration instead of a provincial council!
Trouble for the government over the northern PC election has already begun. To hold it or not to hold it is President Rajapaksa’s question. National Freedom Front Leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa has vowed to oppose it tooth and nail even at the risk of losing his Cabinet post. Not to be outdone, General Secretary of the JHU and Minister Champika Ranawaka has also raised objections to the northern polls. These protests are bound to intensify in time to come. However, none of the dissenters are likely to rock the boat. They know which side of their bread is buttered.
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