Ranil and the Single-Issue concept - Kumar David

 Sunday, 01 June 2014 

Common Candidate for a full term presidency! Oh forget it!
Ranil hungers after things beyond his reach. Lanka News Web reported on 31 May that he informed Sobithahamuduruvothat “he would definitely contest at the next presidential election”. In that casetwo crucial questions arise: (a) is he seekingsupport from others as a Common-Candidate? And (b) does he see himself initially as a Single-Issue (SI) candidate exclusively for the purpose of abolishing the Executive Presidency (EP) forthwith?

The implication of (b) is that the temporary presidency will disappearin months. Thereafter, if he so wishes,Ranil can lead the UNP in the subsequent parliamentary electionshoping to become prime minister.I have no objection to shortlisting Ranil as possible common candidate if he says YES to question (b).

One can have a Common Candidate backed by the whole opposition for the sole purpose of abolishing EP forthwith, changing the constitution, and holding parliamentary elections. Will the JVP (or I) ever back Ranilfor substantive presidency? Rubbish! Will the UNP back Anura Kumara for a six year term? Of course not! Will the JHU back a Tamil, or Tamils and Muslims support Ranawaka? Day-dreaming; unmitigated tosh! However,all will support even a broomstick for a transitional term for the express, explicit and unique purpose of erasing EP. Then it’s: “Thank you very much;home and relax”. Let there not be a shadow of doubt that a Common Candidacy is possible if and only if it is for the unique abolish-EP forthwith objective. The SI concept and the CC concept are inseparable. Ranilis an unmitigated ass if he hankers after a common candidacy for a full-term presidency.

Let Ranil declare his intentions on the SI concept before he presents himself outside the UNPasking for support. Final candidate choice must take into account three crucial points; acceptability to relevant forces, ability to win the elections, political reliability. About half a dozen names are floating in the CC pool; most are not credible. It is time to narrow the shortlist.

I was the first person to propose and develop the SI-CC concept and strategy in a series of newspaper and web essays from about two years ago; hence I have an interest in participating in the discourse. This intervention is justified by continuity.

I’m contesting, Ranil tells Sobhitha Thera!