I will lead Kurunegala UPFA list: Former CM

25 July 2013 05:08 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 25 Bookmark

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Former North-Western Province Chief Minister Atula Wijesinghe said on Thursday the UPFA had not proposed the name of the Chief Ministerial candidate for the upcoming provincial council elections and that he would be leading the team of Kurunegala district UPFA candidates.

Addressing the media at the Kurunegala Janakala auditorium he said the provincial council election was not one held to elect a chief minister. He had convened the media conference to clarify specualtions that he would not be contesting the provincial council election fearing a possible defeat and that his son would contest instead.

“Under the present electoral system any candidate is at liberty to make statements that he would be the chief minister. However the final decision will be taken by the SLFP central committee. The competition among candidates for the post of chief minister is experienced at the provincial council in every province. Any new comers to the party are most welcome. No one would protest against it. My son might have sent in an application to contest under the UPFA ticket. As you already know a father and son would not be allowed to contest for one provincial council. However the people have the right to express diverse views,” he said.

The former Chief Minister stressed that he would not retire from politics as long as the people had trust in him and that he was quite confident of his victory at the up coming provincial council elections. He said the people would decide on the person who should be made the chief minister. (Pushpakumara Jayaratne)