13 February 2023 01:47 am Views - 374
As doubts began to surface as to whether the constitutionally required local government elections would be put off or postponed, several political parties and individuals appealed to the Supreme Court of the land, to rule on the matter.
Ending weeks of speculation, on Friday the highest court in the land gave its verdict, saying there were no obstacles to the Elections Commission to hold the polls as scheduled. Court added there was no need to order the Elections Commissioner (EC) to hold elections, as he (EC) had already given such an undertaking. The Elections Commission had given a special undertaking before Court that, local government elections would be held on 9 March 2023 in accordance with the law.
However, a second petition is pending and the decision has been postponed for February 23... Yet postal voting is expected to commence before this date.
The poll still hangs fire.
Posters are already being plastered on city walls. In the not too distant past, many were the voices who expressed opinions for and against the holding of the election, even though it is a constitutional requirement. Government circles expressed doubts, that sufficient funds were available to carry out an event of such importance during these cash-strapped days. Government MPs and their supporters alike, do not appear too keen on hosting the event.
They realize their popularity has hit its lowest point, with the cost of living sky-rocketing and shortages of many basics including medicaments in short supply and malnutrition among children on the rise. With job losses and salary cuts dating from the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, government candidates are on the backfoot. Defeat stares them in the face...
On the other hand, the parties of the parliamentary opposition need to check their own standing among the people. Unfortunately their participation at events which brought down the regime of Gotabaya were minimal. The actions leading to the ex-president fleeing the country were led by an extra-parliamentary group vaguely named the ‘Aragalaya’ (not a mainline political party). This group operated mainly via social media and claimed it had no leaders!
Their group’s activism and actions, without regard to an end result catapulted present president Wickremesinghe into power. A plan furthest from the ‘Aragalaya’; groups agenda, exposing its lack of constitutional knowledge, far-sightedness and planning.
Again the ‘Aragalaya’ group (quite like our present-day political parties) did not consult with minority interests. For example, the fate of Tamil political prisoners or those ‘who disappeared under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), did not feature in ‘Aragalayists’ list of importance.
It was only when the same law began to apply to them, did they take up the issue. While being critical of the rising cost of living and inflation, minority interests were largely ignored.
Even more sadly, many an opposition party has not put forward plans of how they would tackle the problem of rising costs if they control local bodies. Nor do they provide an alternative to the ‘measures’ to settle the debt, economic and financial crisis. Protest against tax structures, a refusal to comply with IMF agreements in the event of gaining national power are insufficient. People need specific answers to problems, as for example, If not an IMF bailout, then what?
Again, mainline parties keep producing the same old faces of corrupt politicians and their equally corrupt progeny as nominees. The younger generation of voters (and there were 1.2 million of them (according to ‘economynext’ in 2022). Unlike the older generation who have familial ties to particular political parties, this is not their cup of tea. Names of past leaders do not curry favour with them. They want to know specifics of how problems will be tackled. They want to see the backs of corrupt politicians of old. They want a new political culture.
In fact it was these young people who brought down the past regime of Gotabaya Rakapaksa and they are demanding change. Can political parties in the South turn around their old style of politics? Are they willing to drop corrupt politicians and make a break with their corrupt past? In the North and East, a new formation is challenging the ITAK through a new coalition –the Democratic Tamil National Alliance, minus the ITAK. In the South, a coalition of the JVP and allied groups in the National People’s Power group is challenging the entrenched political parties. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya - a UNP breakaway- is also in the running but challenged by the NPP. Its make or break time in Lankan politics, will we break with the old, or will it be a continuation of the same?