“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what happened at the elections?”

“Why, Bindu,” Bindu’s father Percy said, “weren’t the elections held rather peacefully?”

“Considering the violence that was seen before the elections,” Bindu said, “I suppose you could say that...”
“If the elections were peaceful,” Percy countered, “why are you worried?”

“But thaaththa,” Bindu observed, “the outcome was very different from what was expected...”

“Why do you say that?” Percy wanted to know.

“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “everybody expected a close fight, didn’t they?”

“I suppose they did,” Percy declared, “but just because there was no close contest, it does not mean that the election was at fault...”

“I suppose not,” Bindu agreed, “but what happens next?”

“Well,” Percy said, “I suppose Mahinda maama would now have more provincial elections, perhaps two at a time...”
“Or,” Bindu suggested, “he could even have a general election...”

“But he has already said that he is in no hurry to have a general election...” Percy recalled.

“And why should he, when more than half the MPs elected from the Opposition support him in this Parliament...” Bindu countered.

“That is true,” Percy conceded, “but this election result could also tempt him to have a general election quickly so that he can capitalise on his popularity right now...”

“But what about the Reds and Greens, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.

“Well,” Percy asked, “what about them? The people have given them the reply they deserve, I suppose...”
“The Reds certainly got wiped out, didn’t they?” Bindu asked.

“Yes,” Percy said, “they couldn’t even get five percent of the vote in either of the provinces...”

“So,” Bindu said, “if Mahinda maama really wants to annihilate the reds, all he has to do now is to have a general election...”
“Why do you say that, Bindu?” Percy inquired.

“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “now they have thirty nine MPs in Parliament; just imagine what would happen to that number if they cannot get even five percent of the vote...”

“So, it looks like Mahinda maama’s strategy has paid off...” Percy said.

“What strategy is that, thaaththa?” Bindu was puzzled.

“Why, Bindu,” Percy said, “his strategy is ‘divide and rule’...”

“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.

“Why,” Percy explained, “first, he divided the greens into two factions; then he divided the reds into two factions. As a result, he is now ruling without much difficulty...”

“But don’t forget that as a result of Mahinda maama’s actions, the blues also got divided...” Bindu pointed out.

“That may be true,” Percy agreed, “but that division doesn’t seem to have done him much harm...”
“The divisions among the Greens however seem to have damaged them quite a bit...” Bindu noted.
“Yes,” Percy said, “they too have got only forty percent of the vote and that is a vote they always had...”
“So, now they will go through their familiar ritual, won’t they, thaaththa?” Bindu wondered.
“And what ritual is that?” Percy demanded.

“Why, some of them will get together, blame uncle Ranil for this defeat as well and call for his resignation...” Bindu said.

“I suppose they will do that...” Percy said, “but that might be the one result that Mahinda maama may not like about this election...”

“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu asked.

“Why, Bindu,” Percy explained, “just imagine if they succeed and uncle Ranil is chased out of the Greens’ leadership...”

“But why should Mahinda maama worry about that?” Bindu asked.
“Why, Bindu,” Percy declared, “isn’t uncle Ranil being the leader of the Greens, Mahinda maama’s best guarantee that he will win the next elections also?”
Bindu didn’t quite know what to say to that.