A battle for the Lion's share

"Thaaththa", Bindu Udagedera asked, "what will happen now?"

"What are you worried about?" Bindu's father Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, all these talks for a national government have collapsed."

"What's so surprising about that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, everyone was hoping that there will be a national government and all our problems will be over."

"Ah," Percy said, "are you suggesting that if they got together, we will all have enough water to drink, electricity for twenty-four hours of the day and that the war will be over overnight?"

"I'm not saying that", Bindu argued, "but wouldn't it have been better for the country?"

"I'm not so sure about that," Percy said, "remember what we used to say, 'unuth ekai munuth ekai'."

"But why did those talks suddenly collapse, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why, they said it was because of the premiership."

"But the blues are saying that they offered the premiership to the greens."

"But I don't think the PM would have liked to become just a MP again." Percy said.

"But didn't they want to make him a vice-president?"

"But they say he didn't like that, because it would give him no powers."

"So, they couldn't agree because they all wanted power for themselves?" Bindu asked.

"That's what the reds say." Percy observed.

"But aren't the blues talking to the reds too?"

"Yes," Percy said, "and that is to see whether they can come to some working arrangement."

"But thaaththa, that should not be difficult."

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, the reds are only making a few simple demands."

"And what are those?"

"Why, thaaththa, they just want to reduce the size of the cabinet, appoint those five commissions, cancel the referendum and resummon parliament."

"What's so simple about that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, they are not asking for the premiership nor are they asking for cabinet posts."

"But they must be having their own plans." Percy suggested.

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "none of these demands are unreasonable."

"That's true," Percy conceded.

"So," Bindu said, "all they have to do is grant these demands which can only benefit the people and then they can have their government and the premiership." Bindu pointed out.

"It is not as easy as that, Bindu." Percy said.

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"

"Why, Bindu, then twenty four other ministers will lose their jobs."

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "I thought they were keen on doing what is best for the country."

"Of course they are, Bindu," Percy reassured, "but they are more keen on doing what is best for themselves."

"Then, why did they discuss forming a national government with the greens at all?"

"For the same reason that a bald man grows a beard, Bindu."

"And what is that?" Bindu wanted to know.

"To show other people that he is keen to do it, even though he knows that he can't do it where it matters most."

Bindu didn't disagree.

The Jungle Telegraph

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