‘Hold polls in North if you can’

Such snap elections, conducted with the total abuse of state resources and deployment of armed groups, would reflect distorted mandate

The JVP yesterday said the government should give priority to conduct the northern provincial council election if it were ‘hellbent’ on gauging the public opinion on its popularity at this hour.

“People are struggling amidst numerous issues. There is no water for cultivations. The cost of living is going through the roof. Law and order has deteriorated. Now, the provincial council elections have been designed to preempt the possible organization of people against the government in a major way,” he said.

He said, “If the sole intention of the ruling party is to assess the public opinion, we ask them to declare elections in all provincial councils. When there are elections all over the country, the government will lose the opportunity to muster its total strength against one particular location. The state authorities will be compelled to divide its resources among all the provinces for electioneering. It will, at least, reduce pressure on the other parties in the fray. We challenge the government to dissolve all the councils at once if possible.”Asked about calls for the northern provincial council elections, he said, “We do not believe the establishment of the northern provincial council will give the desired freedom to people.

However, if the government is

Responding to this position, the JVP MP said the government trotted out such lame excuses since they were not genuinely interested in this election.

interested in assessing public views, an election in the north is all the more important.”

The government has cited the incomplete de-mining operations and the inability to upgrade electoral lists as reasons for the delayed election in the north.

Responding to this position, the JVP MP said the government trotted out such lame excuses since they were not genuinely interested in this election.

“This is not a realistic stand,” he added.