Can UNP win alone..?

Sajith who lost even to Namal at Hambantota..!

Will Champika- Rajitha – Fonnseka bat a looser..?

(Upul Joshep Fernando)

This was a question, asked by a close associate of a number one UNPer. He was also in a deep thought, being unable to answer this question, since he knew the sad plight of UNP in to which it had fallen.

Thisquestion would have been answered in 2010, 9 years ago. If Ranil gave up and gave the party leadership to eitherKaru or Sajith after defeating 2010 General election, UNP would have had 5 years to get organized to win 2015 presidential election alone. It was those who protected Ranil at that time, who today stress that Sajith should be the candidate, if UNP wants to win alone. At that time they told “how could Sajith win who can’t make Hambantota win. At that time the position they took was, if the allegations that Premadasa family had including disappearance of Photos from Presidential House after the assassination of Premadasa, comesto light ,it would have been the end of not only Sajith but also UNP. it were them who told that UNP cannot win alone and we should contest through an Alliance.

They who wanted the Elephant symbol and the UNP Brand, alleged that Sjith is carrying out a contract of Rajapaksha. Through these comments they protected Ranil’s leadership. But it was areason for a terrible crack of UNP. The war betweenRanil camp and Sajith camp commenced. Sirikotha was stoned as a result of this division. At that time UNP that could not hold even a meeting, was unable to hold it’s Conference. The party came to a standstill after falling in to a very weak position. UNP was fragile being unable to win an election when 2015 presidential election was coming up.

At that time General Secretary of the party,ThissaAttanayake had launched an operation to mitigate Ranil and Sajith to reestablish party back. Thissa told that Ranil should be the presidential candidate while Sajith should be the Prime Minister candidate. Those who want Sajithtoday, opposed this proposal then who protectedRanil in 2010. The got dam wild for this proposal of making Sjith the Prime Minister. They took up the position that a common candidate should be fielded after renouncing the party and the color, though a commonsymbol, since the victory was impossible even Ranil and Sajith get together. It were them who were in the opinion of bringing Maithree, Maithree became the President. It was Rannil who was battered by him from the very first day of his appointment.

When Ranil was thrashed by MaithreeUNP became weak. It was in 2018 that a government lost a provincial council election. It was when UNP that got severely injured by the war between Ranil and Sajith , raising head winning the 2015 Presidential and General elections. Maithree’s continues battering, toppled UNP more ruthlessly than 2010 – 2015. But those who rise a voice for Sajith, did not stand to empower Ranil or the party, due to the fear of losing Ministerial portfolios after antagonizingMaithree. Those who stand for Sajith, are those who got Ministerial portfolios from Maithreewithout the knowledge of Ranilafter the politicaldilemma of October 26.

The best example is Kabeer who proposed the name of Sajith at the recently held meeting of UNP parliamentary group. Raanil even did not know his swearing in as a Minister. Then the majority of those who want Sajith today and protected Ranil then are the one who dance according to the tune of Maithree. Eventhough they protected Ranil then and got parliamentary seats through the National list, became Ministers and got all the benefits , now seek the patronage of Maithree. But they fearthat they will be thrashed by Ranil if he continues as the President, Prime Minister or leader of the party after 2019. Other than 2 or 3 , who are rising the voice for Sajith, all others were Ranil’shenchmen those days.

Those who came to politics through Ranil.Those who became key figures after becoming Parliamentarians through the National list through Ranil and did not know anything about politics. They who entered politics through Ranil and protected by Ranil, are suffering from a mental disease that if Ranil comes to power that will be their end. Hence what they want is to combine Sjith and Maithee to get Ministerial portfolios. That is why those who wanted an Alliance in 2009, want Sajith today. But they have forgotten that it were them who totally destroy the Elephant.

It was 36 lacks of votes that UNP could get at the provincial council election. If UNP wants to win , it has to get over 62 lacks of votes that was gained byMaithree in 2015. The other hand UNP contested in 2018 under the Elephant symbol. That election was handled by those who want Sajith today. The campaign too was designed by them. Then party Secratary was Kabeer who wants Sajith today. Hence can UNP gain another 30 or 35 lacks by fielding Sajith. Sajith is a popular leader in the party. But even to win with Sajith , an Alliance is required. Except 2 or 3, others who want Sajith, atleast are not competent enough to give an attracted speech in a stage.

Maithree won in 2015, since Champika ,Raajithaa and Fonseka were addressing in political meetings. It were them who made the UNP incapable to win without their support and who want Sajith today. This is not an advisable time to change the leadership. Not an appropriate time to restructure the party. The best thing to do is to go forward in the presidential election by gathering everyone who are against Rajapksha. If UNP tries to contest alone where Fonseka ,Champika and Rajitha form an Alliance to field a common candidate , it is the sad end of UNP. Today UNP stands in a more weak position than in 2015. Those who want Sajith today to contestunder UNP, should learn the lesson from Mahinda. Mahinda is the most popular leader who has a strong personality. Mahinda fears Weerawansa ,Gammanpila and Wasudewa. Mahinda knows that they will be no away if Mahinda’s patronage is not there.

Mahinda knows that he cannot win irrespective of his popularity,without them. The reason is their competence to market Mahinda and speak attractively on the stage. Mahinda knows that he will be left along without them on the stage. “ ifMahinda too feels so, how can UNP go alone. When UNP was holding the Conference in 2010, Sajith was a popular leader even to challengeRajapaaksha. UNP supporters entered Sirikotha by force due to this aroma. But those who wanted Sajith today made him weak then. If Sajith was given the leadership in 2011 and UNP contested the provincial election, even cannot win, it would come to tie with Mahinda. Frankly Mahinda too got scared of Sajith. That is why he forced Sajith not to take the leadership using his own connections. After that Sajith collapsed.

Sajith got a terribly lost atthe provincial council election in Hambantota. Sajith terribly lost in Haambaantota at the Southern Palathsaba election. Mahinda did not give the leadership at the 2015 General election to Hambantota. It was Namaal who fought with Saitth. Not only UNP got a severe defeat at Hambantota ,Namal got more preferential votes than Sajith. UNP had the state power in 2015. UNP severely lost at the provincial council election of 2018 at Hambaanotaa. UNP cannot be lifted either. If UNP wants to win the 2020 election, it’s Alliance with Champika, Rajitha, Fonseka, Hakeem ,Rishard, Mano , Digambaram,Sambandan is of utmost important. First of all the Alliance should be formed gathering all these political personalities.

After that Sajith’s name can be proposed by Sajith camp. The one, who is favored by everyone and aligned with every one, should be the 2020 candidate. Champika, Rajitha and Fonseka will be the ones who will first go to prison if Mahinda wins. It is very unlikely that they will bet for one who will lose, to ultimately go to prison. It was in 1988 that UNP could elect a President without an alliance, after 1982. It was Premadasa. Then he was a popular leader than Sajith. But he too won with the votes of East Muslims, gainedthrough Ashrofby braking him off from Sirimavo’sAllianceat the last moment and Tamil votes of Northof Perumal’s,gained through Indian Peace Force.

It is through an Alliance that the victory is possible not only for Sajith but for anyone else. UNP has time till 2025 to make them competent enough to contest alone after winning 2020.

-Guruda Vigrahaya-