Why the JVP failed so abysmally

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which according to public and media opinion, had the best campaign in the run up to the August 17 general election, was a party people viewed as having the potential to create a new political culture in the country. However, the party ended its election race on an abysmal note, throwing a big question mark over its political future.

Why the party, which many thought could stir up things in the political pot and create a red wave in the next legislature, failed to even create a ripple in electoral politics this election, is a question that is being asked in many quarters.

The party's performance at the August 17 polls was the poorest in recent history, even when comparing the votes it received at the 2010 general elections, which, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka described as being 'due to the 'political tsunami' following the war victory'.If the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), the political alliance formed by the JVP with Sarth Fonseka's Democratic Party could secure seven seats in 2010, amidst the 'political tsunami' in the aftermath of the war victory, and under conditions that were unfavourable for election campaign, why couldn't the JVP secure the expected number of seats at this election?

Due to its growing popularity in the run up to the elections, the JVP was expected to secure 12 seats or more in Parliament, but succeeded only in recording the lowest percentage of votes it has received as a single party at a general election in the recent past. At the 2000 general election, in which the JVP contested as a single party, it secured 10 seats in Parliament polling 518,774 (6%) votes. In the 2001 December snap polls, the party further improved its representation in Parliament, securing 16 seats, polling 815,353 (9.10%) votes.

JVP popularity

There were reasons for the JVP to increase its popularity during 2000 and 2001, as the country was engulfed in a war and people were facing a dilemma as there was no solution at sight. Patriotism was at its height and the JVP was in the forefront to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity, which was at a stake at that time. The oratory of the JVP leaders became the main attractor for the JVP and raising patriotic voice was more than enough for the people to vote for the JVP.

At the same time, the JVP in 2001, while supporting the People's Alliance (PA) in a probationary government, was instrumental in bringing the 17th Amendment to the Constitution to establish five independent commissions. That helped the party increase its vote base at the 2001 December general election.

Gathering momentum from these developments, the JVP had its golden era in 2004, when it sent to Parliament, 39 of the 42 candidates fielded on the UPFA ticket. People elected them to Parliament because they wanted to defeat the Ceasefire Agreement signed between the UNF Government led by then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the LTTE, and protect the country from the separatist agenda.

In 2004, the JVP held four ministerial posts and four deputy ministerial posts in the UPFA Government but distanced itself from the government before the 2005 November presidential election. After that the JVP as a political party could not share any national responsibility despite joining the wider front in 2010 to defeat former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

That was the main reason, coupled with the split in the party in 2008, for the erosion of the JVP vote base at the 2010 general election. Though the party made a significant contribution to defeat Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2015 January presidential election, it was reluctant to share responsibility in the good governance government formed after Maithripala Sirisena's victory. Despite its role as a true campaigner against corruption, the party could not make any significant contribution to take action against the corrupt politicians. However, the voice they raised at the election platform against the two main political parties became the talking point among the public, especially the government's failure to direct the investigations in the right direction.

Defeating Rajapaksa

However, people believed the JVP could play a leading role in the fight against corruption, although there was a perception that the JVP was acting more lenient towards the UNP at the general election, as its campaign focused more on defeating Rajapaksa.

JVP's election attempt was mostly to ride on the weaknesses of the two main parties, rather than building its own credibility to win the confidence of the people. Therefore, despite the very attractive campaign, it had practically nothing to offer to the people in its fold to prove its capabilities, especially to the young voters who had no idea about the party's past.

The JVP's plea to the voters to give the party the mandate to play the role of the opposition was also not very appealing, as people always vote for a party which can form a government. The stiff competition between the two parties also pushed the JVP to a miserable situation, as voters had to think of a party which could form a government rather than a party that wanted form an opposition. Changing its candidates at district level also didn't make any sense to the people, as many districts with potential vote base had no attractive candidates to win the vote on the district basis.

It had not realised that though the JVP block vote does not care for the candidate the party fields at district level, attractive and prominent leaders are need to get the floating and young voters towards them. For instance, the absence of a prominent JVP leader from the Kurunegala District was highlighted as a reason for the JVP's failure to obtain a seat from that district.

On the other hand, the lack of prominent JVP leaders at district and electorate division levels, at the second and third tiers of the JVP leadership also became a factor for the voters to distance themselves from the JVP. At any general election people expect representation from their areas rather than sending national level leaders to Parliament. As a party with young, educated and professional representation, the JVP as a voluntary political movement could have done a great service to society, through its power to mobilize people, rather than sticking only to political slogans and political campaigns.

In this context, if the JVP can overcome the latest political hiccup and evolve as a political movement that could meet the national requirements and serve society through its networks, it can win the confidence of the people in future elections and turn the popularity in the minds of the people into votes, not only to become a real third force in politics, but to run a government in the future.