TNA rifts over ministry allocations aggravate

by P. Krishnaswamy

Rifts within the TNA over the allocation of ministries has aggravated and the party leadership is unable to take a final decision despite a series of meetings with leaders of the constituent parties, informed sources said.

Following meetings with regional level leaders in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya last week, party leader Rajavarodayam Sampanthan and Chief Minister designate C.V. Vigneswaran met leaders of three constituent parties Dharmalingam Sitharthan (PLOTE), Selvam Adaickalanathan (TELO) and Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF) at the TNA headquarters in Bambalapitiya.

TULF leader V. Anandasangaree was not present at the meetings. However, a decision had not been taken at the time this edition went to press.

PLOTE leader D. Sitharthan told the Sunday Observer that important issues, including the Chief Minister designate Vigneswaran’s swearing-in at Temple Trees before President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the allocation of Ministries and ministry portfolios was discussed. Leaders of the constituent parties expressed divergent views over the unilateral decision of the party leadership, he said.

While the parties insisted on allocating one ministry for each constituent party, the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the main party, was keen to take away three ministries and therefore, a consensus had not been reached.