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Where does the UPFA stand in Parliament?:
Bizarre composition puzzles voters
by Uditha Kumarasinghe
Whether the UPFA is the true Opposition in Parliament or a sheer
constituent partner of the Yahapalana Government remains a question to
many. This is because a section of the UPFA MPs has been rewarded with
ministerial portfolios while a substantial number of pro-Mahinda
supporters have decided to be in the Opposition.
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dailyft.lk |
In democracies, the line of separation between the Government and the
Opposition is clearly drawn with their ideologies remaining far apart.
In the current Sri Lankan context, the line of separation is half drawn.
Is the new arrangement meant for political expediency or to realise the
dream of a progressive government?. This is a major questions that has
puzzled voters.
Over 30 SLFP parliamentarians joined the National Unity Government
and obtained ministerial portfolios while another faction of the SLFP
said they would not join the UNP led coalition Government and would
remain in the Opposition ranks. In this backdrop, President Maithripala
Sirisena has allowed SLFP MPs who do not wish to join the coalition to
be in the Opposition. This bizarre composition has raised doubts among
voters on the exact number of SLFP members represented in the
Opposition. The figure is yet to be confirmed as some SLFP members still
continue to receive portfolios in the Unity Government.
Coalition parties
The UPFA secured 95 MPs, TNA 16 and the JVP six at the last General
Elections. The Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) secured a seat
while the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) contested with the UNP, it
also secured a seat contesting separately as a party. Of the 95 UPFA
MPs, 80 are SLFP members. The SLFP Central Committee which met recently
decided that the 80 SLFP MPs should unanimously agree with the decisions
taken by the party chairman and warned that stern action would be taken
against those who breach party rules. The 15 MPs who belong to the UPFA
coalition parties including MEP and NFF, the CWC and EPDP MPs have
decided to extend their support to the Government. In addition to the
UPFA members who obtained portfolios of the Government, a large number
of their MPs in the Opposition benches are also willing to support the
Government. In this context, TNA has become the major Opposition party
with the highest number of MPs.
When asked about the UPFA's composition in Parliament, a top officer
in Parliament told the Sunday Observer it is difficult to tell the exact
number of UPFA MPs in the Opposition and it will have to be decided when
the Parliament convene on September 22. The UPFA MPs having obtained
ministerial portfolios are considered government members. However, there
is no legal barrier for the rest of the UPFA members to be in the
Opposition. At present four parties are in the Opposition, UPFA, JVP,
ITAK and JVP.
MEP Leader and Colombo District UPFA Parliamentarian Dinesh
Gunawardena told the Sunday Observer the UPFA constituent parties in
Parliament include SLFP, MEP, NFF and DLF. However, the SLFP without the
consent of the 95 MPs elected on the UPFA ticket signed a MoU with the
UNP accepting ministerial and deputy ministerial portfolios of the
government. Over 45 members of the SLFP signed a document and handed it
over to President Maithripala Sirisena requesting him to allow the UPFA
to elect the Opposition Leader. Even after a section of SLFP members
accepted portfolios of the Government, over 40 SLFP MPs still remain in
the Opposition with their UPFA constituent partners. Therefore, over 50
UPFA members will be in the Opposition. Gunawardena further said they
have requested Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to recognise them as a group in
the Opposition in keeping with the principles of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary practices. He alleged a few SLFP seniors who accepted
portfolios are trying to dictate to the Speaker that they are the final
decision makers in the UPFA Opposition. It is up to the Speaker to put
the things right. The TNA and the JVP are refusing to recognise the
Opposition which comprises a majority of UPFA members.
Composition
However, some political analysts pointed out that the present
composition of the Opposition in Parliament would set a bad precedent as
it would go against democratic norms. They said the President will have
to handle the government and the opposition ranks due to the strange
composition created by a faction of SLFP joining ranks with the
government while another remains in the opposition. This is a violation
of parliamentary norms. Political analysts said there should be a
vibrant and independent opposition for democracy adding that the present
composition of the opposition has paved the way for a tamed opposition.
They also claim the TNA securing the Opposition Leader's post is
reasonable but the Parliamentary tradition is that the Opposition Leader
is appointed from the largest opposition party in Parliamnet. However
irate UPFA constituents such as the MEP and NFF oppose the decision
taken to award the Opposition Leader's post to the TNA.
A constitutional expert expressing a different view said the SLFP
which has allied with the government is the key coalition partner of the
UPFA. The Parliament is represented by the UPFA and not the SLFP.
President Maithripala Sirisena is the leader of the SLFP and the UPFA.
In this backdrop, a section of the UPFA members cannot claim they are
not in the UNP-SLFP led coalition government and they have no moral
right to claim themselves as a separate opposition because they all have
been elected to Parliament on the UPFA ticket. However, some constituent
partners of the UPFA like National Freedom Front (NFF) has disclosed
their initiative of forming a separate alliance of UPFA MPs who will not
join the government.
The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) Parliamentarian A.
Amirthalingam held the Opposition Leader's post from 1977 to 1983.
The TULF MPs boycotted Parliament after the Black July riots and
Amirthalingam and other TULF MPs lost their seats due to their absence
in Parliament for three months. |
