Opting For Political Supremacy: Party Politics Vs. Personal Games

By Ananda Jayawickrama– JUNE 27, 2021

Prof. Ananda Jayawickrama

Fielding Maithripala Sirisena as the common candidate of the 2015 presidential election can be considered as a serious mistake committed against the democracy and the democratic practices of the country. Because it forced majority voters to elect a person with a political minority representation and the elected person was not able to deliver the mandate given by the majority. The people who supported Sirisena became political refugees as he finally implemented the agenda of the defeated candidate. Further, Sirisena nullified the manifesto put forward by his own camp and because of that many who supported the Sirisena camp later believed that they have been deceived at the 2015 presidential election. The non-adherence to the election manifesto by the Yahapalana government made people to bring the defeated camp back to the power in 2019. This political experience remains as a guiding example for major political parties in making decisions on common candidacy in a presidential election.

Though the next presidential election is looming only in 2024 and a discussion on who will contest it is immature, the movements in various fractions of the opposition and also the government pass hints on potential leaders and so, candidates. Given that the government-side will field the same or another Rajapaksa to contest in 2024, it is quite interesting to discuss the movements in the opposition ranks and the viability and credibility of such trends.

SJB

As the main opposition party, the SJB is certain on fielding its leader Sajith Premadasa as the next presidential candidate. Having 50+ parliamentary seats, holding the leader of opposition post and securing the support of main minority parties, it is reasonable for the SJB to be firm on their choice. With the revival of its membership, consistent progress made in terms of capacity development of the party and the growing experience and the maturity of the leadership, there is a high chance for Sajith Premadasa to do a better job in the next presidential election. Further, the fast dropping popularity of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime would also make Sajith’s race to the office easier, but there is a challenge for him and the party enticing floating votes and making the party vote base bigger. 

SLFP

The SLFP is a part of the present government with an extremely unhappy mood at present over the treatment received from the Rajapaksas after the 2020 general election. The growing concern over the ill-treatment is reflected in views express by the leaders of the SLFP. Given the present contexts and some strongmen of the party are much closely aligned with Rajapaksas, the SLFP is not in a position to apply pressure on or challenge the government. Further, as the report of the Easter Sunday attack has been clearly fenced its leadership, the SLFP is seemingly not in a position to free its arms and consequently they would not be thinking of contesting separately and would remain as supporters of the present government.

NPP

Jathika Jana Balavegaya, predominantly the JVP, will field its own candidate for the next presidential election as well. The NPP in the parliament and also the outside political discourse makes a significant influence at present by picking up policy hiccups and misdeeds of the present government. Especially, the JVP leader Anura Dissanayake spends most of his time and energy uncovering misdeeds of the government. However, their limited vote base and the perceived voter rigidity in accepting them as a viable alternative in a major election will make their chances very narrow in upcoming elections as well. If the NPP is convinced to support their candidate or at least if NPP be made indifferent at the next presidential election, then the main opposition candidate would have a better chance to win the election.

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