TNA in turmoil

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leadership that was accused by many moderate political leaders in the aftermath of the January 26 Presidential poll of trying to create an ethnic divide in the country is now experiencing turmoil within its ranks consequent to arbitrary decisions on shortlisting nominees for the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

While leader of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam already quit the TNA alliance to go it alone in the parliamentary elections, many former MPs of the TNA representing the North and the East expressed dismay over the decision of the party leadership to sideline them and give place to `thugs and rogues’ who are detested by the people.

They spoke to the Sunday Observer on the condition of anonymity which they wish to maintain until they hold a media conference shortly on the matter.

They said throughout their six-year parliamentary term they were with the people who elected them with a considerable majority and worked for these people unlike others who were elected on a handful of votes and remained overseas most of the time looking after the welfare of their family members and relatives.

They said they were sidelined on the grounds that they criticised both the confrontational politics hitherto followed by the TNA leadership and their rigid pro-LTTE stance with regard to a solution to the ethnic problem and other national issues.

They said they would not betray the people who elected them and would certainly contest the April 8 parliamentary elections. They would decide on their next course of action in a day or two. They, however, declined to say whether they would contest on the ticket of a prominent national political party.