Shiranthi Wickremasingha's name emerges ... as candidate for Presidential Elections

Shiranthi Wickremasingha's name emerges ...

as candidate for Presidential Elections

Though the next Presidential Elections is still months away, the hot topic that has taken foremost attention these days is as to who and who would come forward from each political party. A dialogue has now emerged about the candidate in relation to the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna party of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa who displayed convincing revolutionary results at last by-election. In this respect it is the name of former President's brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa whose name is spoken about in a predominant manner. However, fresh talks circulate that instead of Gotabhaya's name, certain factions from the same party are making efforts to bring other names forward for this purpose, it is observed. Even Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in the context of this decision has given the impression that his brother Mahinda would be taking that decision, thus turning a blind eye on the outcome. Under these circumstances Mahinda would be making the final decision whether the candidate would be Gotabhaya, Basil or someone else. 

What circulated around the past few days was that two stalwarts of Pohottuwa itself, Vasudeva and Welgama voicing their negative opinion about Gotabhaya coming forward was something that happened because of a necessity of the Mahinda faction. Certain groups argue in opposition of Gotabhaya coming forward in this respect saying that he is a military-type administrator. What some others say is that he would not be successful in claiming minority votes. 

Pohottuwa was victorious at last by-election not by clinching anything over 50 percent. Unlike at other elections, since it is necessary that the winner of a Presidential Election should have more than 50 percent, the party contesting is required to utilise all strategies possible and in such instances some ideas have emerged that there is better demand for clan-oriented votes on behalf of someone more close to the heart in comparison to mentally-stimulated social-reforming votes. As such, an idea has cropped up about a soft-spoken and mild candidate who could grab Mahinda's votes in the same manner. What weekend newspapers have reported is that Mahinda Rajapaksa's wife Shranthi Wickremasingha's name would be nominated as the candidate, minus any clash as such; close towards the election. Though through this process it is not expected to cash in on what is known as 'floating votes' in a rational way to bring about a change in the country, there would be a possibility of confirming powers through that strategy of clinching a high majority of votes across the Mahinda-image and deeply rooted clan-oriented votes already built up at rural level, it is reported. 

In line with the 19th Amendment, as Mahinda was unsuccessful in becoming Presidential candidate for the fourth time, the only option is to conjecture in this case. In this context though Shiranthi Wickremasingha has no political knowledge as such does not create a problem, Sirimavo and Chandrika who came on behalf of their husbands reaped successful results in the political field in Sri Lanka would be an example in this context, it is said. 

In the meantime, it has been revealed by a weekend newspaper that the idea of bringing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's wife Shiranthi Rajapaksa has nevertheless created an influence targetting their three sons. In that connection it would be easy to understand matters in relation to the political future of Mahinda's sons who would lose their footing by handing over powers to someone else.