Testing rime for greens popularity are come

"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all this fuss about local government elections?"

"Why", Bindu's father Percy asked, "who is making a fuss about it?"

"Why, thaaththa, there is so much confusion among the blues and the greens about this election too..."

"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why thaaththa, a minister has even threatened to resign and a deputy minister has offered to resign from his party post because of that..."

"Those are trivial matters, aren't they?" Percy said.

"Yes, but can lead to major problems..." Bindu said.

"But the Green Man has seen to it that they are settled..."

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "doesn't it also mean that the Green Man is also under pressure?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why thaaththa, he has even offered to enlarge the cabinet..."

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

"Why, thaaththa, didn't Satellite's problems also

begin when she reshuffled the cabinet?"

"But this is not a reshuffle," Percy argued, "it is merely giving cabinet status to people who deserve it..."

"That may be so," Bindu said, "but what about those

promises?"

"Which promises are those?"

"Why, thaaththa, didn't the greens promise to limit the cabinet to cut down on expenses?"

"But they say that ministers are not given any special privileges..." Percy argued.

"That's what they all say..." Bindu retorted.

"Anyway, Bindu," Percy said, "we have to wait and see whether they keep their promises..."

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "they must make sure that they win this election..."

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, this is their first test of popularity after their election win; so if they lose, it will indicate that the people are losing faith in them..."

"But I am sure the people will give them some more time to do what they said they will do..." Percy observed.

"I am not so sure, thaaththa..." Bindu said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, it is hardly a year ago that the blues won an election..."

"But everyone questioned the validity of that election, remember?" Percy recalled.

"But", Bindu pointed out, "if the greens lose this election, there will be someone else who will be keen to exploit the situation..."

"And who is that?" Percy queried.

"Why, thaaththa, Satellite would want to make the most of it by saying that the greens have no mandate to continue in government..."

"But I thought Satellite was quite friendly with the Green Man at the Independence day celebrations..."

"I think there is a reason for that too..." Bindu said.

"And what is that?"

"I think they both might want the blues to lose the next election..."

"Why should Satellite want that?"

"Why, thaaththa, so she could say that you-know-who is not good for his job and give it to Mallo..."

"Let's say that is possible" Percy said, "but why would the Green Man support her?"

"Why, thaaththa, having Mallo as his rival will be the best assurance for Green Man that he could win the next election too..." Bindu said.

Percy didn't quite know what to say to that.