Are Sri Lankan Marixsts eying for the opposition leadership?

(February 20, Colombo - Lanka Polity)  The opposition coalition in Sri Lanka has shattered. The parties that backed the opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka are now divided. Major opposition United National Party (UNP) is no more actively supporting the campaigns for his release.

Only the Marxist People's Liberation Front (JVP) has not abandoned him. JVP has decided to contest the general election under the 'trophy' symbol offering the leadership to Sarath Fonseka.

At a press conference held yesterday, National Organizer of Jathika Hela Urumaya Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that arrest of Gen (Rtd) Sarath Fonseka might prove to be detrimental to the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance's interests, particularly in view of the forthcoming general election.

Based on the same argument, one can say that the JVP is in an advantaged position. It can vie for sympathy votes, gratefulness votes and hatred votes etc. generated for Sarath Fonseka.

This will be detrimental not only to the ruling party but also the major opposition UNP as well. UNP is insisting the elephant symbol in a coalition to fight Rajapaksas at the upcoming general election. This is definitely a move not to ally with JVP. The Marxists cannot accept the elephant symbol due to understandable reasons.

JVP also actually wants to sun allying with the UNP although there is pressure from party grassroots to unite to fight Rajapaksa menace. JVP is a fighting force unlike the lethargic submissive UNP that has already admitted defeat. If JVP can create a wave of protest based on the arrest and court martial of Fonseka, the Fonseka-led coalition will be able to become the major opposition of the country.

The Sri Lankan polity that backs a regime change are in need of a pushy leadership to fight Rajapaksas. The general election scheduled for April 08 will decide if Fonseka and the JVP will be able to cater the need.