The split in the broad opposition alliance with the formation of two separate alliances by the UNP and General Sarath
Fonseka and the JVP has eroded the opposition vote base to an extent.

Opposition party representatives fear that the disgruntled voters may even refrain from casting their votes at the April 8 general election. They also opine that the split among opposition ranks has minimised the opposition’s chances of posing a challenge to the governing party at the elections while also increasing representation at the next parliament.

The UNP led UNF and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) led by General Fonseka and the JVP are now looking at improving on the number of votes received at the Presidential election by the common candidate, while also encouraging all opposition voters to cast their votes at the forthcoming general election.

DNA Secretary and JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath noted that the task before the opposition is to encourage disgruntled voters to cast their votes at the election.

He said there indeed was a section of voters who are unhappy with the split in the broad opposition alliance.

“The continuance of the broad opposition alliance would have made it easy for the opposition to increase its representation in parliament and pose a challenge to the governing party at the election,” he said.

However, he said the DNA campaign would also be focused on encouraging people to cast their votes at the election.

The DNA campaign is based on the need to restore democracy, good governance and provide economic relief to the people. Herath also observed that the opposition parties, even from two separate platforms, are agitating for the same cause. “This factor needs to be explained to the people to encourage them to cast their votes,” he said.

Meanwhile, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake expressed confidence saying that the opposition vote base may not affected badly as expected.

Attanayake explaining a different point of view said that some voters who did not cast their votes at the Presidential election due to their disapproval of alliances formed between certain political parties, may cast their votes at the general election.

“Although there were many who supported the broad opposition alliance, there were also loyalists from both the UNP and the JVP who did not cast their votes due to their disapproval of the alliance between the two parties,” he said.

The alliance between the UNP and the JVP, two political parties with divergent policies, came on a common platform at the Presidential election in support of General Fonseka’s common candidature.

According to Attanayake, the voters who did not cast their votes at the Presidential election could now do so as the parties were contesting from separate alliances.

However, he admitted that there were still some who are unhappy with the breakdown of the broad alliance.

“The split was not caused merely due to a symbol issue, there is much more to it and the policy divergences and the experiences at the Presidential election played a role in it as well,” Attanayake said.

Amidst the odds, the DNA and the UNF is hopeful of being able to form a strong opposition representation in the next parliament.

The opposition now has about five weeks to convince the voters of its conviction to bring about all that is currently being said in the respective election campaigns.

At the last parliamentary elections held on April 2, 2004, the UNF won 37.8% of the popular vote and secured 82 out of 225 seats in parliament. The UPFA which contested with the JVP polled 4,223,970 votes (45.60%) of the votes and secured 105 slots in the legislature.

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema