Clashes Within TNA Over ITAK’s Domineering Stance

The domineering approach of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi has brought dissension within the TNA hierarchy, but Mavai Senathirajah MP and General Secretary of the ITAK said that issues have been sorted out and consensus reached and presently they are involved in selecting candidates.

In the meantime Suresh Premachandran MP and the leader of the EPRLF told the Asian Tribun that TNA is a five party alliance and Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi has simply ignored the other parties in selecting candidates for the Eastern Provincial Council elections and it was against the coalition dharma.

He said Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi has come forward to nominate more candidates in the three district of the Eastern Provincial Council over and above the seats allocated to other TNA constituent parties.

When Asian Tribune asked Mavai Senathirajah, that there are opposition within TNA over ITAK getting more candidates than other TNA constituent parties, he said “that matter has been discussed within the TNA and sorted out.”

He also said that the TNA will be contesting the provincial council election in the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi symbol only. He said that all the issues regarding the election has been discussed and consensus arrived at and now they are selecting candidates.

In the meantime, Suresh Premachandran MP and EPRLF leader told Asian Tribune the other TNA constituent parties have requested equal share in the nomination of the candidates, but ITAK has refused to accede to their request.

He said, “When we were about to openly oppose the decision of the ITAK, our supporters and diaspora community in the West urged us not to show our dissent openly, which might help the ruling party to win seats easily and they entreated us to bear with the ITAK for the time being and go ahead with election together with the ITAK.

Hence we have decided to go ahead with the election despite our displeasure with the ITAK.

He said "once the elections are over after that we will take a different stance. "

He also said as the SLMC has decided to contest on the UPFA ticket, there are some signs on the ground that some Muslim leaders of the SLMC might come forward as independent group and contest the provincial council election in the East.

- Asian Tribune -