Allirajah Set to Unite Tamil Parties Ahead of Elections

By  Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

 October 2, 2024

LYCA Mobile owner Allirajah Subaskaran, who has roots in the Northern Province,, is reportedly stepping into politics, with efforts to form a mega Tamil political party by uniting the fragmented Tamil political parties of the North and East ahead of the upcoming General Election.

Sivagnanam Shritharan, who allegedly met Allirajah last Saturday, visited President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (1) as well. This meet-up has signalled a possible attempt to form an alliance with the National People’s Power (NPP), political experts say.

Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha met several Tamil political parties yesterday (1). It is reported that the Indian High Commissioner had invited all Tamil political parties for a briefing. The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), Tamil Makkal Kootani (TMK), and Tamil National Makkal Kootani (TNMK) participated in the discussion.

Suresh Premachandran told IBC that the meeting addressed issues concerning the new Government, Tamil concerns, and economic challenges, all of which were discussed with the Indian High Commissioner. This meeting occurred in the backdrop of Indian Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s expected visit to Sri Lanka soon.

“We also spoke to him about the development of KKS Port, Palaly International Airport, and other matters with the Indian High Commissioner. We conveyed our stance on the 13th Amendment that the NPP has reiterated to implement,” noted Premachandran.

On the LYCA front, they have initiated steps to organise a political party by holding discussions about either using the ‘Conch’ symbol or potentially aligning with the Tamilar Viduthalai Kootani (TVK) symbol, owned by Anandasangaree. However, it is widely speculated that the ‘Conch’ symbol, associated with Ariyanethran’s party, will be selected, with MP Selvam Adaikalanathan expected to lead the new party.

Allirajah, who has established numerous corporate companies and is heavily involved in the South Indian film industry, now plans to purchase a symbol from the Election Commission. He aims to use the ‘Conch’ symbol, used by Ariyanethran, who was the common Tamil Presidential candidate. It is rumoured that LYCA has held talks with former ITAK member Sivagnanam Shritharan, who supports Ariyanethran. Shritharan reportedly met Allirajah and his team on Friday (27). It is widely viewed that the youth are rallying behind the National People’s Power (NPP) across provinces, citing disappointment with Tamil politicians who have done little for their community.

Additionally, former Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and EPRLF leader Suresh Premachandran have also met the LYCA proprietor, along with lawyer Viswalingam Manivannan. Nominations for the General Election are due to the Election Commission in four days, and the ‘Conch’ symbol is backed by the DTNA and some allied parties after the Presidential Election. However, not all members of civil society have openly agreed to support the ‘Conch’ symbol.

TMK Leader Wigneswaran has announced that, win or lose, they will stick to their party policy and contest independently; however, he stated he would go solo and contest independently. Meanwhile, ITAK is still undecided and will make a decision next Saturday about whether to contest in Colombo or focus solely on the Northern and Eastern provinces. ITAK had said that DTNA would make their final decision today.

The ITAK, having secured many seats in previous elections, aims to retain them while gaining more at the upcoming General Election, and the party has also decided to investigate members who acted against party policies during the Presidential Election and to welcome more young members into the party and field them as candidates. Nominations for the General Election are due to the Election Commission between 4 October and 14 October, and the ‘Conch’ symbol is backed by the DTNA and some allied parties for the contest after the Presidential Election. However, not all members of civil society have openly agreed to support the ‘Conch’ symbol.

They are also believed to be working to bring back former alliance partners, such as TELO and PLOTE, who had left the TNA, to once again contest under the TNA banner. These groups, along with the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) and civil society members, are expected to join forces under the ‘Conch’ symbol, and ITAK is allegedly preparing to send formal invitations to them soon requesting them to join ITAK. If none join, Sumanthiran has said ITAK will also contest without any alliance. This decision has already been taken, he said. (CEYLON TODAY)