Opposition Plans For General Election

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Hot on the heels of the presidential election, the country’s political circles are busy discussing the formation of alliances and fronts to contest the  general election. Political sources have predicted that a general election will be called after the dissolution of parliament some time this week.

The opposition parties are looking at several options, which include the continuance of the broad coalition formed during the presidential election to support the candidature of Common Presidential Candidate General Sarath Fonseka. The broad alliance of opposition parties with divergent policies seen at the presidential election is now considered the best way to maximise the vote base of the opposition at the parliamentary elections.

Discussions have already commenced to explore the possibilities of the joint opposition contesting with the same alliance under the ‘swan’ symbol. However, a final decision is yet to be arrived at with the main opposition party, the UNP, deciding to convene its Working Committee on February 11 to discuss the general election. UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the party has decided to contest the general election under the UNF banner and under the elephant symbol.

“The possibility of contesting under the elephant symbol is still under discussion, and we are looking at it,” he said.

The UNP is the main party in the UNF and the UNF constitution permits the alliance to contest an election under the symbol of one of the member parties with the consent of all the members. Attanayake said that unlike during the presidential election, the UNP had to protect its identity as well.

“At the presidential election we all supported one candidate, but at the general election the system is different. However there are pros and cons we have to consider regarding contesting under the elephant symbol or another common symbol,” he said. He added that the party had to consider its vote base and parliamentary seats.

SLFP (M) Wing Leader and Co-chairman of the UNF, Mangala Samaraweera said that the UNP decision to contest the general election under the elephant symbol was still being discussed by the UNF. “A decision must be arrived at soon because parliament will be dissolved soon,” he said.

When asked if he would be able to garner the votes of the SLFPers if he were to contest under the elephant symbol, Samaraweera noted that a common symbol would enable the UNF to get more votes for the UNF. “But we need to be mindful of the sentiments of the main opposition party, the UNP, as well,” he said.

As for the JVP, he said the party has not made any indication of its willingness to contest with the opposition alliance. JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe a few weeks back told The Sunday Leader that the party would form a separate alliance to contest the general election under the ‘bell’ symbol.

However, following the presidential election results JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said the party is yet to make a final decision on how it should contest the election. “We have to make our final decision considering the current political developments,” he said.

Meanwhile, General Fonseka has expressed his desire to contest the general election under the swan symbol within the same coalition as in the presidential election. He has proposed that the joint opposition contest the general election under the swan symbol.

Expressing a similar sentiment, SLMC Leader and Co-chairman of the UNF, Rauf Hakeem said the opposition, in order to maximise its vote bank at the general election, should not allow the broad opposition coalition formed during the presidential election to dissolve.

“We must not break it up. I have proposed to the Opposition Leader that we build on that alliance,” he said.

Hakeem is also in discussions with the TNA to look at the possibility of including the main Tamil party in the north and east in the opposition alliance at the general election. He noted that the SLMC could even come to an agreement with the TNA to contest together in the north and east after arriving at a consensus on the matter with the UNF.
The main slogan of all opposition parties is the need to restore democracy in the country, a slogan that was used by the broad opposition coalition during the presidential election. According to Hakeem, regardless of policy differences all opposition parties need to get together to protect democracy.