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Concern
over split in the Eastern Muslim vote bank
The Mosque Federation and the Jammiathul Ulema of the Eastern Province made several attempts to bring the SLMC, the Athaulla faction and the NUA under one umbrella on the premise that Muslims could achieve the maximum electoral benefits through a united alliance, but Friday's move by the Athaullah faction to ally itself with the SLFP-JVP alliance had paved the way for a heated battle among Muslims in the Eastern province. Mr. Athaulla told a news conference on Friday that his group would contest the Batticaloa, Digamadulla, Wanni and Trincomalee districts on the UPFA ticket, offering a tough challenge to the main Muslim party, the SLMC. The Athaulla faction on Friday formed a new political party called the Muslim National Alliance but will not contest under this name as the party has yet to be registered. Mr. Athaulla said he decided to join the UPFA after a meeting with the SLMC ended in a deadlock. An SLMC official told The Sunday Times that the three main demands of the Athaulla faction were unacceptable. The three demands included the continuation of the court cases between the two groups, the continuation of policies of the two parties as they are and allowing the Athaulla faction to work independently after the election. Muslim groups have claimed that if all Muslim parties contest the election as a united front, they could win as many as six seats. They have warned that none of the Muslim parties will gain any seats, if they contest the election as rivals. Meanwhile, the interim injunction against the Athaulla faction would continue to remain in force and Minister Rauff Hakeem will continue to be the leader of the SLMC with the 'Tree' being the party symbol. |
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