Forgive and forget, that's the name of the game

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what will happen to the government now?"

"Why, Bindu," Bindu's father Percy said, "Satellite has dissolved Parliament and called for an election."

"But thaaththa," Bindu protested, "only a few days ago, they were saying that they will never dissolve Parliament because they could win the no-confidence motion."

"Politics is the art of making promises and then explaining to the people why those promises cannot be kept, Bindu" Percy observed.

"But thaaththa," Bindu wanted to know, "what about all those people who crossed over?"

"What do you mean?" Percy asked.

"Why, thaaththa, People like Seeni Bola and the Professor who were always singing the praises of Satellite and trying to convince all of us for seven long years that she was a great leader."

"What's wrong with that?" Percy queried.

"And now they suddenly turn around and say that it was Satellite who was taking all the decisions and that they were mere puppets who were forced to do what Satellite wanted them to do."

"That's what they claim." Percy agreed.

"Then, thaaththa," Bindu continued, "Didn't the greens themselves accuse Seeni Bola of rigging the last elections."

"I think they did accuse him of some malpractices at Nuwara Eliya " Percy recalled.

"Then, thaaththa, how can they welcome him with open arms now?"

"That is what politics is all about, Bindu," Percy explained, "you must learn to forgive and forget, or else you will not succeed in politics."

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"

"Why, remember, Satellite once accused the reds of conspiring to assassinate Vijaya but she was able to forget even that and sign a deal with them for the sake of survival."

"And what will happen to the reds now, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.

"I think they were getting too big for their boots, trying to make out that they were the ones who were winning all their demands and that they were doing it for the sake of the people."

"What's wrong with that?" Bindu wanted to know.

"But because of that they have now become unpopular by trying to prop-up a collapsing government."

"And they got nothing in return for their support," Bindu observed, "even the famous independent commissions will not be in place for the next elections."

"Nor will there be a Constitutional Council." Percy noted.

"So, what do you think will happen at the elections, thaaththa?" Bindu asked, "Will there be a situation where the reds will again hold the balance of power."

"That's difficult to predict," Percy said, "but it will be a close fight between all parties concerned."

"So, who will win, thaaththa?"

"Ah, that's easy to predict," Percy said.

"How can you say that?" Bindu demanded.

"Why, Bindu, all you have to do is ask AB, our former Honourable Speaker whom he will support at the election."

"What can you say from that?"

"Why, Bindu, whatever side the poor man supports, the other side wins."

"How can you be so sure?" Bindu queried.

"Why, Bindu, he was with the Blues for seventeen years in the opposition; then, he crossed over to the greens and they lost the next election. Now, he is mending fences with Satellite and is reconciling with the Blues and their government collapses."

Bindu didn't want to disagree with that.