With actor-turned-politician Vijay making a major political entry into Tamil Nadu, this week’s Rajya Rahas column reveals a new political operation currently being carried out by the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (Tamil Arasu Kachchi), the main Tamil political party in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces.
At both the last presidential election and the general election, a significant bloc of Tamil and Muslim votes from the North and East shifted toward the National People’s Power (NPP) government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This was largely due to several promises he made during a visit to Jaffna, including introducing a new constitution, resolving the issues faced by Tamil people in the North and East, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), holding Provincial Council elections, and abolishing the Executive Presidency.
However, despite one and a half years having passed, the government led by the President has so far failed to fulfill any of these key promises. As a result, many are now questioning whether Tamil and Muslim voters in the North and East will continue to support the government.
Against this backdrop, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi recently initiated a major political move with little public attention. The party has launched a new program aimed at re-engaging rehabilitated former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam members and their families in democratic politics in the North and East.
The party has reportedly received significant support from several influential Tamil diaspora groups for this initiative. According to reports, there are around 12,000 rehabilitated former LTTE members.
As part of this effort, M. A. Sumanthiran, General Secretary of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, recently took steps to hold the first meeting with these rehabilitated former LTTE members in Mannar and a second meeting in Vavuniya. A notable number of people reportedly attended both meetings.
Through this initiative, the party is now preparing to launch a new political movement in the North and East. Many believe the effort may also receive support from India. Attention is now focused on what kind of relationship may emerge in the future between this new political movement originating from Northern Sri Lanka and Vijay’s new political force in Tamil Nadu.
Why is the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi attempting to unite former LTTE families and launch a new political movement?
Many observers believe the party is preparing for a major political campaign in the coming months, demanding that Provincial Council elections be held and that the issues faced by people in the North and East be addressed. Many also believe Vijay’s political rise in Tamil Nadu has provided significant momentum to this effort.
According to many political analysts, delaying Provincial Council elections any further could become a major challenge for the government.
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has already sent several letters to the government urging it to hold Provincial Council elections as soon as possible.
Former Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya also made a special statement last week, saying that the government should proceed with Provincial Council elections either under the existing system or a new system.
Meanwhile, PAFFREL also issued a statement on Thursday emphasizing that the government must immediately conduct Provincial Council elections.
These developments indicate that a situation is emerging where the government may no longer be able to delay Provincial Council elections any further.
