NPC crisis: Some rebels ready to take oaths – TNA

Senathirajah

By Shamindra Ferdinando-October 13, 2013, 12:00 pm 

Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) yesterday said that some of those newly elected members of the Northern Provincial Council who had boycotted last Friday’s swearing in ceremony in Jaffna subsequent to a dispute over allocation of ministries were now ready to take oaths.

ITAK General Secretary Mavai S. Senathirajah said that of the 28 elected members of the first NPC, nine belonging to the TELO, the PLOTE and the EPRLF shunned the swearing in ceremony.

The veteran politician declined to state the exact number of rebels likely to take oaths before Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan or Chief Minister of the NPC Justice C.V. Wigneswaran during the next few days.

The ITAK is the dominant member of the five-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which comprises the ITAK, TELO, PLOTE, TELO and TULF.

ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran yesterday expressed confidence that the dispute could be resolved soon. Asked whether it could cause a split in the 13-member TNA parliamentary group, attorney-at-law Sumanthiran emphasized that the grouping remained intact in spite of the recent tiff over ministerial appointments.

Sumanthiran said he, too, heard of some rebels expressing desire to take oaths though he couldn’t confirm it.

The TNA parliamentary group comprises 13 members, with the ITAK having nine and the TELO and the EPRLF two each.Sumanthiran said that the TNA gave CM Justice Wigneswaran the prerogative to choose his board of ministers. Sumanthiran said: "The decision was made after having consulted all constituent members. Finally, Justice Wigneswaran picked four most suitable persons representing ITAK (2) and one each from the TELO and the EPRLF. The PLOTE and the TULF couldn’t be accommodated."

Asked whether the ITAK interfered with Justice Wigneswaran in choosing members for ministerial appointments, MP Sumanthiran said that all constituents had an opportunity to make representations. The ITAK too, told Justice Wigneswaran of its position, though no undue pressure was brought on the CM.

The MP said that of the 28 elected persons of the 38-member NPC, the ITAG group comprised 14 whereas the EPRLF (6), TELO (5) and PLOTE (2). The SLFP-led UPFA and the SLMC secured seven and one seats, respectively. The TNA also received two bonus seats thereby increasing the strength of its group in the NPC to 30.

Responding to a query, Sumanthiran said that CM Wigneswaran picked four ministers representing Kilinochchi (ITAK), Vavuniya (ITAK), Jaffna (EPRLF) and Mannar (TELO). Unfortunately a member from Mullaitivu couldn’t be accommodated in the board of ministers as Provincial Council couldn’t have more than four ministers in accordance with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

TNA leader Sampanthan wasn’t available for comment.

According to Sumanthiran, PLOTE leader Dharmalingham Siddarthan declined to accept the post of Chairman of the NPC though Justice Wigneswaran offered him the post.

Tamil sources told The Island that the ongoing dispute over ministerial portfolios had embarrassed those who had thrown their weight behind the TNA at the Sept. 21 Provincial Council polls. Sources said that it could cause a major setback to the alliance and pave the way for the government to undermine the NPC.