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| Sunday, 26 June 2005 |
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Poll-phobia strikes in many colours Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake "When is the next poll?' asked Dinanapaksha Chandapala. "What are you talking about? Haven't we had enough already in the last five years?" asked Chandagedera Prajapala. "But the JVP has left the Sandhanaya and there is only a minority government, in place. So isn't it necessary to have another poll?" Besides don't you think it will bring some excitement instead of all this P-TOMS, PTOMS talk all the time?" "You must be the only person wanting another poll. I tell you for certain that no one in the country wants another election, not for a long time, if they can help it," said Mahamanepey Kathiravansa. "Is this a democracy or not? If we are a democracy, then when the ruling party loses its majority, either the Opposition should take over office or the country should go to the polls? Why are you all trying to avoid that," asked Chandapala. You must understand the ground realities that decide on whether a poll is to be held before its due time, and those realities do not point to a need for a poll just now," said Prajapala. "I'll tell you the ground realities that I know of" said Chandapala. "There are so many printers hoping for contracts to print posters, leaflets, and all that propaganda material essential for a successful poll. Think of the newspapers, TV and radio stations waiting for the money they can get from political advertisements and the abundance of Manapey ads. Are these not ground realities, apart from the interests of liquor store dealers who can increase their sales and the suppliers of sound equipment for election meetings? "There is truth in what he says," said Kathiravansa. "There are so many stakeholders in elections. One must not forget those in the underworld of crime who play an important role at elections, apart from police officers taking sides with future promotions in view; and also that new breed known as polls monitors, who make a packet in foreign exchange out of the whole exercise. It is surprising they are not bringing enough pressure to have another election very soon". "What I refer to is the real ground situation. Which political party is ready for the polls, except perhaps the Bhumi Putras, the NLF and the TNA? The first and second know they will be left out in the count. The third knows they will win not just anyhow, but with all the power of the Tigers. Those are the only certainties. In such a situation how can we expect another poll soon," asked Prajapala. "Then why were so many parties saying they were ready for an election at any time, just three months after the Sandhana government was formed, and it had still not clobbered together a working majority in parliament. I think the green elephants were making the most noise," said Chandapala. "That is typical political bunkum" said Chandapetti Gnanapala. "Those who shout loudest want it least. Talking of ground realities some printers who did work for candidates at the last election are still waiting for their payments, and promised printing from ministries and government corporations. The liquor store dealers are also awaiting repayment of their expenses in the form of an extra license or two. These have not been attended to as yet. So how can these people want another poll," he asked. "But how is it that we hear of party leaders asking their members to be ready for a poll at any time, whether this a presidential poll or a general election," asked Chandapala. "That's all for good effect," said Gnanapala. "Can any member in the present parliament be certain of what will happen to his or her seat, in the event of a general election at this stage? Even those who may be sure of seats, how certain can they be of leadership positions," he asked. "These are the ground realities that Prajapala speaks about." "Haven't you observed the green elephants now saying they will not topple the Government, although the JVP has left it? What's preventing it from doing so? Is it a sudden love for stability or the President? They are now demanding the next Presidential election in November this year, but sounding lukewarm about that too. The fact is they have not completed appointing new party organisers for many electorates and created sufficient impact among the people as to want to defeat even this minority government," said Prajapala. "But the JVP has said it is ready for an election at any time," said Chandapala. "It is all very easy for them to say so, knowing well it is the President who has to dissolve parliament. In any event, there is no doubt that behind their boasts they must be aware of the other ground reality that the Bulath heppuva they took to the people last time is no more; and also that there are many who are spitting out the red betel juice from their mouths in anger, while others were still chewing the cud of betel in their mouths, when the red brigade walked out of the Government," said Gnanapala. "They have to once again display the hammer and sickle, which they covered with the betel leaf." "What about the blue types, and their smaller allies who are in the minority government? Surely with government power, even of the minority type in their hands, they can do much better than the others at the polls," said Kathiravansa. "But they are also faced with the same dilemma. It is a question of survival for as long as possible in their seats of power or going to the people and not being sure of returning even to a backbench. It's a truly scary situation to any politician, although we the people who elect them can afford to talk so freely like this about their plight," said Prajapala. "I just realised there will be another problem for the JVP with the JHU hijacking their campaign, and another for the monks of the JHU with the JVP trying to have a touch of Sinhala Buddhist yellow on their red shirts," said Kathiravansa. "It is my simple reading that those really affected by the tsunami are our politicians and the political system that has made them what they are. Whatever the crises of governments and political parties, or the debates about P-TOMS, the tsunami would have done a great thing if it helps us finally get rid of this system of corrupt politics that passes off as today's political culture. There is not the least touch of any culture in it. It is just vile and can never be of service to our people. |
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