TNA, Wigneswaran in battle for North

Protests have also been organised in Vavuniya tomorrow. Protests were held in Kilinochchi and Jaffna on Friday.

The Chief minister's supporters also called on him to take over the leadership of the Tamil people.

These moves came as the TNA yesterday demanded that Mr. Wigneswaran should withdraw the disciplinary action initiated against the two ministers who were sent on compulsory leave .

TNA MP and spokesman M. Sumanthiran told the Sunday Times that the TNA wanted the Chief Minister to reverse his decision of sending the two ministers on compulsory leave for a month. “However until last evening we have not received a favourable response from Mr Wigneswaran.

"We are ready for a compromise and get the ITAK members who moved the no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister to withdraw it. But that will depend on the response we get," he said.

Of 38 members in the council, 15 members signed the no-confidence motion against Mr. Wigneswaran after he initiated action against all four ministers based on a report by a three-member committee that probed allegations against them. Evidence was found only against two ministers and the Chief minister called for their resignation.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan in a letter to the Chief Minister said, ‘Unwarranted action should not be the cause for promoting disunity and disturbing the functioning of the Northern Provincial Council."

Mr Sampanthan said that to to resolve the issue, the Chief Minister should withdraw the action he took against the two ministers who were found not guilty.However, NPC member M.K. Sivajilingam, who supports the Chief Minister, said the two ministers in question were only told to submit a leave application and stay away from the council sittings for a month.

He claimed that already two members who signed the no-confidence motion had withdrawn. “We will get more members to withdraw and ensure that the no-confidence motion is defeated," he said.