Presidential polls: Shivaji to provide a party for a Tamil common candidate
Despite a senior representative of a leading north-based Tamil political party strongly opposing a Tamil candidate entering the fray in the upcoming presidential election, a leading member of a five party Tamil political coalition suggests that the civil society could field a common candidate for Tamils.
Tamil National Party (TNP) Secretary and former Parliamentarian M.K. Shivajilingam has also expressed willingness to provide a political party to field such a candidate can be fielded.
“The civil society is trying to field a common candidate. The situation is such that six parties can extend their support, except the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) and Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF). In this context, there is no issue with arranging a party to contest.”
At present, Shivajilingam represents the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), which consists of five political parties. In the 2010 presidential election, which resulted in Mahinda Rajapaksa being elected as President for the second time, Shivajilingam contested as a Tamil candidate.
The Thamizh Makkal Tesiya Kootani (TMTK) led by Parliamentarian and President’s Counsel C.V. Wigneswaran has also expressed willingness to field a common candidate.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Jaffna Press Club on 11 June, Shivajilingam further said that in the event a common candidate not being fielded, he will not hesitate to contest in the election.
“If it becomes impossible to field a candidate until the last moment, at least I will contest in the Tamil land. Although it has been stated that I will not be contesting in any election, I am ready to face any issue between coalition parties.”
Addressing a forum, titled “Eelam Tamils’ self-determination rights, the public’s stance, and the public’s election” and held at the Thanthai Selva hall, Jaffna, on 9 June, ITAK Parliamentarian and President’s Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran had stated that if a Tamil common candidate was fielded in the upcoming presidential election, election campaigns should be conducted against such a decision. The forum was also attended by Shivajilingam.
Accepting that challenge, Shivajilingam had responded to Sumanthiran at the Jaffna Media Society on 11 June.
“Shivajilingam will take on this task as a Tamil common candidate. I would like to show Sumanthiran that there will be no election without a Tamil common candidate.”
Addressing the same audience as Sumanthiran, senior ITAK leader and Northern Provincial Council Chairman S.V. Sivagnanam had said that he would also not oppose the idea of a common candidate.
The TNPF has already commenced campaigns urging the north and east to boycott the presidential election. With Parliamentarian Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam as the Leader and Parliamentarian Selvaraja Gajendran as the Secretary, the TNPF points out that Sri Lanka’s head of the state is working only for the majority community within a unitary state.
