Tamil alliance for LG elections

2 January 2011 04:51 pm Views - 4304

The Tamil political parties were trying to forge an alliance to contest the local government election under a common symbol, former MP M.K. Sivajilingam said today.

Mr. Sivajilingam who is now the Secretary General of the Tamil National Liberation Alliance (TNLA) told Daily Mirror that the PLOTE, the EPRLF (Pathmanabha) faction, the TULF had already agreed with his party in this regard. However, Mr. Sivajilingam said that talks would be held with other Tamil parties including the TNA soon.

The government announced last week that the local bodies would be dissolved on January 10.  The election is likely to be held in March according to the law. The date will be announced by the Elections Commissioner after accepting nominations.

“Now, we try to reach common understanding on a political solution. We should stand together at the election to show our collective strength. If we are divided, people will also lose their confidence in us,” he said.

The last local government election was held in 2006. However, the election could not be conducted for most local bodies in the North and the East at that time due to the volatile security situation.  Later, the government conducted the polls for certain local bodies in the East in 2008. Also, the elections were conducted for the Jaffna Municipal Council and the Vavuniya Urban Council in August, 2009. (Kelum Bandara)