{"id":41921,"date":"2015-06-30T15:33:29","date_gmt":"2015-06-30T19:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=41921"},"modified":"2015-06-30T15:33:29","modified_gmt":"2015-06-30T19:33:29","slug":"if-maithripala-wants-to-stop-mahinda-he-will-have-to-give-nomination-to-rogues-in-the-slfp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=41921","title":{"rendered":"If Maithripala wants to Stop Mahinda he will have to give Nomination to “Rogues” in the SLFP"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Upul Joseph Fernando<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the election results were announced in the 1994 general elections, Chandrika Kumaratunge was in hiding at a secret location. She felt there were threats on her life. Only her confidantes were permitted to visit her. Those confidantes who were with her when the results were announced saw tears in her eyes. “See, having done such a massive campaign and the people’s swing towards us we’ve got only 105 seats in Parliament,” she lamented with deep pain of mind. She only wanted 113 seats to form a strong Parliament. She was then forced to seek the support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).<\/p>\n

In 2001, Ranil Wickremesinghe spearheaded a massive campaign against Chandrika’s Government countrywide. He managed to grab many stalwarts in Chandrika’s Government that included SLFP General Secretary, S.B. Dissanayake. But when the election results were announced, Ranil was shocked as he obtained only 109 seats though he planned to get 113 seats. He too sought the support of the SLMC to form a government.<\/p>\n

Chandrika toppled Ranil’s Government in 2004 with the support of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) having labelled Ranil as a LTTE (Tiger) supporter. Together with the JVP and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Chandrika launched a patriotic campaign against Ranil. With the sudden demise of Ven. Soma Thera the campaign turned out to be a Sinhala Buddhist campaign. However, Chandrika and the JVP could manage only 105 seats and Chandrika was forced to break up the SLMC to form a government.<\/p>\n

In that backdrop of the pattern of elections under the proportionate representation system, how could the UNP dream of obtaining 113 seats in Parliament? Truly, the UNP obtained only 60 seats in 2010. It needs a further 53 to get the required 113 seats.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Hence, it has to be an effort to double the figure obtained in 2010. Can it happen? How did Mahinda Rajapaksa secure 140 electorates at the 2010 presidential election? So, why can’t we get 113 seats, the UNP may debate. That argument cannot be ignored. However, the difference between Mahinda and Sarath Fonseka at the 2010 presidential election is 1.6 million votes. Moreover, the UNP which made Maithri the President goes solo as Maithri leads the SLFP. Can the UNP win without Maithri? These are valid questions that remain for answer. Floating youth vote Truly, Maithri did not win with UNP votes alone. Maithri grabbed the floating youth vote. For that, Sarath Fonseka, Arjuna Ranatunga, Champika Ranawaka, Hirunika Premachandra, Rajitha Senaratne and Duminda Dissanayake rendered yeoman service. The anti-Mahinda stance of the JVP also contributed towards that success. Now Maithri plans to form a coalition with these segments to strengthen the SLFP. This may confuse the floating young voters. They will have to decide whether their votes should go to Maithri or to the UNP. One must remember that the young floating went against Mahinda and the members of his government.<\/p>\n

That stands as the truth. These young voters not only defeated Mahinda, but also Mahinda’s Government which was the SLFP led UPFA. So, if Maithri goes to polls with those defeated ministers and candidates will the youth and the floating vote go in his favour?<\/p>\n

That is the only plus point the UNP has to win the election without Maithri. And, Maithri goes to polls with faces that are two decades old in current politics. The people are fed up with many of them. But the UNP goes to polls with new faces. What would happen if Maithri discards the rogues and old faces and come with new faces? Then the going would be tough to the UNP. It will not be easy for Maithri to perform that task. Why? If Maithri wants to halt the march of Mahinda, he (Maithri) would be compelled to give nominations to the rogues and corrupt in the SLFP.<\/p>\n

If Maithri goes with Mahinda to face the August elections, the floating and youth votes cast for him in January will swing the UNP way. If Maithri goes with Mahinda it will be beneficial to the party. If that happens then he will lose the youth and floating vote.<\/p>\n

This is a tricky situation and Maithri too seems to be floating at the moment thinking where to go!<\/p>\n

Courtesy:Ceylon Today<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Upul Joseph Fernando When the election results were announced in the 1994 general elections, Chandrika Kumaratunge was in hiding at a secret location. She felt there were threats on her life. Only her confidantes were permitted to visit her. Those confidantes who were with her when the results were announced saw tears in her …<\/p>\n

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