29 October 2024 08:44 am Views - 109
By Yohan Perera
A strong opposition with experienced people is needed in Parliament to safeguard the nation as National People’s Power (NPP) might even try to introduce Marxism otherwise, UNP Deputy Leader and National Democratic Front (NDF) Gampaha District candidate Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.
“A two-thirds majority for NPP will be a dangerous move as efforts may be made even to introduce Marxism. Many countries are moving away from Marxism,” he told a briefing.
“People should think wisely when they go to vote at the General Election,” he said.
Responding to questions raised by the journalists, he said talks on getting the support of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for a grand alliance was somewhat successful. “However, we were not able to cement an agreement before the Presidential Election because of the demands made by SJB. They wanted Sajith Premadasa to be the presidential candidate while they wanted telephone to be the symbol of the new alliance,” he said.
Asked as to why some persons in NDF camp have got frustrated, Mr. Wijewardene said even people from other parties have also been frustrated.
“Some in SJB including Ajith Mannapperuma, Niroshan Perera and Mayantha Dissanayake have also got frustrated and decided against contesting the General Election. I have spoken to Mannapperuma and told him that he is welcome to join us even after the General Election,” he said.
He said efforts will be made to join up with SJB members after the General Election.
Asked whether the elephant symbol of the UNP will be dispensed with, he said it will not happen. “The elephant symbol will be back. I also believed that we should have contested the General Election under the elephant symbol. However, the others in our alliance came up with a fair point, saying that contesting under the elephant symbol would not go well with their voters as they have been criticizing the elephant or the UNP for a long time.
Also, he said no discussion has taken place on bringing former President Ranil Wickremesinghe back to active politics but said the nation might want his services in case the NPP government finds it difficult to continue. “We don’t want to topple the NPP government,” he said.