“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “who won the election?”
“Which election are you talking about?” Bindu’s father Percy asked, “so many people are talking about so many elections these days...”
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “the elections in the south that everyone was talking about all these days...”
“What about that election?” Percy asked, “the Blues won that quite convincingly, didn’t they?”
“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu inquired.
“Why, Bindu,” Percy tried to explain, “didn’t they get nearly seventy per cent of the votes?”
“Yes, they did,” Bindu agreed, “but that is not what the others are saying...”
“Why, what are they saying then?” Percy wanted to know.
“The Greens are saying this is the beginning of the end for the Blues...” Bindu pointed out.“How could they say that?” Percy was puzzled, “when the Greens have got only a little more than a third of the votes the Blues got?”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu said, “they don’t quite see it that way...”
“How do they see it, then, when the figures are so convincing?” Percy wondered.
“What they say is that the Blues got a lesser percentage of votes than they did at Uva...” Bindu countered.
“Why is that so important?” Percy asked, “the fact remains that the Blues have won by quite a substantial majority, isn’t it?”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu persisted, “the greens seem to think this would be the beginning of the end for the Blues, just like a previous southern provincial council election which signalled the end of the Greens some sixteen years ago...”
“But, Bindu,” Percy recalled, “the big difference is that the Blues won that election whereas now, the Greens have still lost this election, even if the Blues have recorded a lesser percentage of votes...”
“But the Greens seem to think that the downward trend for the Blues will continue in a big way...” Bindu suggested.
“And why should that happen?” Percy was curious.
“Well,” Bindu said, “they claim the popularity that the Blues gained after winning the war is now slowly but surely fading away and that very soon it will no longer be a plus factor for them...”
“How can they be so sure about that?” Percy demanded.
“Why thaaththa,” Bindu said, “The Blues got more votes in Uva which is traditionally a Green area two months ago than they got in the south which is Mahinda maama’s hometown, last week...”
“So, what do the Greens think about that?” Percy inquired.
“They think this pattern will continue even more in the months to come and are sure they will do well at least at a General Election...” Bindu explained.
“And why is that?” Percy wanted to know.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “they say the economy is also going downhill and very soon people will start feeling the pinch on their purse strings...”
“And what will happen then?” Percy demanded.
“Well,” Bindu said, “the Greens seem to think the people will then forget all about the war and vote for them...”
“We will have to wait and see whether that will happen,” Percy said, “but what do the Reds say about all this?”
“They too have been making strange statements, thaaththa...” Bindu pointed out.
“Why do you say that?” Percy asked.
“They are now saying they will get together with anyone to abolish the executive presidency...” Bindu pointed out.
“And who is this ‘anyone’?” Percy wanted to know.
“Maybe they want to get together with the Greens, ...” Bindu suggested, “because the Greens are also making some noise about fielding who they call a ‘common’ candidate against Mahinda maama...”
“Whoever it is, it will have to be a very uncommon man, if he hopes to take on Mahinda maama and win...”
“Why do you say that, thaaththa?” Bindu inquired.
“Why, look at what happened to Uncle Ranil when he tried to take on Mahinda maama four years ago...” Percy recalled.
“Well, some say it will not be Uncle Ranil, this time around...” Bindu said.
“Who will it be, then?” Percy asked.
“Some say there are two contenders and they have the same name...” Bindu declared.
“And,” Percy said, “if I were a Green supporter, I wouldn’t count on either of them...”
Bindu didn’t disagree.