PC elections: What next?

by Upali S. Jayasekera

(August 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The UPFA won the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils elections convincingly.

The UNP and the JVP will now find various excuses for their defeat as has been done by political parties in the past when they lose elections. Violence and rigging is nothing new to elections, both here and abroad. None of the political parties can claim to be Mr. Clean or saintly.

You cannot point a finger at one single party for violence. All are guilty of it. The failure on the part of the party political leadership in the two provinces to discipline their membership and prevent violence, no doubt, led to bloodshed, violence and damage to property. The police too should take quite a part of the blame as their lethargy, inefficiency, inactivity and partiality also contributed to violence and destruction of property.

The two UNP nominees for the chief ministers’ posts polled the highest preferential votes (no rigging, of course). It was, perhaps, because they were both ‘outsiders’ and the UNPers thought they were more suited and could be trusted as against the tested locals. It also proves that among the four contestants, the two UPFA nominees were not as popular. More importantly, their images are tainted with allegations of corruption. In fact, the two UPFA nominees should now make way for two younger and more popular persons in the UPFA to take over the leadership.

The JVP lost the elections badly. The JVP has no excuse for that but accept the position that they are losing popularity among the rural voters and the working class. Their attempt to use the unsuspecting workers, job crazy bhikkus and unruly elements among university students to show the power and strength of the JVP appears to be counter- productive and has resulted in the voter losing faith in the JVP.

The UNP has again proved that it cannot win elections under the heavily pro-West leadership which cannot be reconciled with the man-in-the-street or the simple worker/ peasant perception. It does not understand the signs of the times and is unable to cope with the political, social and economic problems realistically with a national outlook, which need to be liberal, socialist - democratic and religious. A change of leadership should come sooner or later if the UNP is to face the future with confidence and continue in the political arena successfully.

The ruling party using state machinery and vehicles for electioneering is nothing new. The UNP did that and the SUP followed suit. The JVP is also not that innocent. As I was once a public servant, I can quote chapter and verse in that regard. Using state machinery, vehicles and resources is wrong, but has been the trend by political parties in power. Perhaps, it is due to underdeveloped politics in a developing country.

The Provincial Council elections victory is a personal triumph for the President, There is no doubt about it. The rural voter has faith in him and his leadership. They see and feel the development work in progress in their areas with satisfaction.

The UPFA though victorious failed to increase its vote base as compared to that of the UNP, which, of course, had the advantage of the SLMC votes tilting towards the elephant. However, the rising cost of living, economic hardships, allegations of bribery, corruption and waste of public funds too went against the Government to some extent.

Corruption, indiscipline, lethargy and inefficiency are rampant in the public service. That goes against the Government. The Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs has had little or no success in his attempt to cleanse the public service. He cannot do that single-handed. Support must come from the hierarchy, which is not forthcoming for obvious reasons. The country cannot progress with a corrupt and inefficient public service.

The President, therefore, needs to turn his attention to these issues with all seriousness of purpose, with a view to adopting remedial measures, as otherwise when the war comes to a close, he could end up as the British war time Premier Winston Churchill did - win the war, but lose the election.
- Sri Lanka Guardian