TMVP sticks to its guns on CM post

By Wilson Gnanadass
The Tamil Makkal Vidudalai Puligal (TMVP) that swept through eight of the nine local bodies in the March 10, local polls in Batticaloa, will not enter into any pact with the government to contest the forthcoming provincial polls, unless the government nominated a TMVP candidate, for the post of Chief Minister.

This decision was taken by the party’s politburo last week, in Batticaloa, and the decision is to be conveyed to the government shortly. Thus, the TMVP is awaiting a quick response, from the government.

A decision was also made to withdraw support to the government, if the government failed to recognise this demand.

The party’s contention is that, the party has now mustered the support of the majority in the East, and thus they should be recognised as a separate entity.

Party spokesman Azad Mowlana told The Bottom Line that having secured so many number of local bodies in Batticaloa, and subsequently, becoming another major force, throwing a challenge to even some of the long standing political parties, it was too difficult to contest the election under another party, and also not being recognised to hold the office of the Chief Minister.

According to Mowlana the party politburo is working hard, to find out,what is best for the party, given the present ground situation.

Mowlana said, if the government failed to give the party, to run for the Chief Minister’s post, then the party would contest the election independently, under its own symbol.

“These are the decisions that are being taken by our politburo. We are trying to give due recognition to our own party, and at the same time, through this exercise, give the people, who are with us, a better deal,” he said.

The Bottom Line, is of the view that, the government, has failed to woo the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), after the Congress in no uncertain terms informed the government, that it would not join hands with the ruling party, to contest the election.

The government thereafter informed, the minority parties contesting the elections in the East, that the party candidate, who gets the highest number of votes would be appointed, as the Chief Minister, if there was a pact with the government.

The Bottom Line understands that, to date, no independent party has so far indicated to the government, of its desire for any possible marriage, to contest the election.

Meanwhile Mowlana also said that, the party decision will not be changed, unless there was a change of heart, on the part of the government, led by President Mahinda Rajapakse.