The Fifth Column

13th June 1999

No party has overall majority

"Thaaththa", Bindu Udagedera asked, "what do you think about the south?"

"Well"said Percy Udagedera, Bindu's father, "it's probably a bit better than the north…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, they said there was quite a bit of violence…"

"But what about the results?"

"Why, the blues say they have won a landslide victory…"

"But, have they really?"

"Well, Satellite was thanking everyone for the victory…"

"But thaaththa"Bindu argued, "they have got only a little over forty per cent of the vote…"

"But they say that they are the single largest party…"

"But they don't have a majority of the seats…"

"So,"Percy pointed out, "it will be like most of the other provincial councils…"

"But can the blues survive like this?"Bindu wanted to know.

"For the moment, I think they will"Percy said.

"Then, what happens next?"Bindu asked.

"Then, the real fun starts…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why Bindu, the real test is next year…"

"But why will that be real fun…?"

"Because"said Percy, "the way things are, no single party will be getting an overall majority…"

"Then what happens?"

"Then, all the other little parties will join the fray and start bargaining…"

"But that has happened even before hasn't it?"

"But this time there will be a difference…"Percy said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, Bindu look at what happened in the south…"

"Why, what has happened?"Bindu was puzzled.

"Why, the reds have got about twelve per cent of the vote…"

"And what does that mean?"

"That would mean that one in every eight people voted for them…"

"So, what's wrong with that?"Bindu wanted to know.

"There's nothing wrong"Percy agreed, "in fact, it may be quite good…"

"Why do you say that?"

"Because"Percy pointed out, "if they do as well in the general elections, they may have about twenty members of Parliament…"

"That might be quite a saving for the country…,"Bindu said.

"How is that?"Percy wanted to know.

"Why thaaththa, they say that they will not work for a salary…"

"They say that now"Percy agreed, "and we hope they will also do that when they get the chance…"

"Then, what will happen next?"

"Then, whoever wants to govern will have to get the support of the reds…"

"But thaaththa", Bindu said, "the reds say they will not get together with anyone, least of all the greens…"

"Then", Percy said, "they might still have to work with the blues if the blues are the single largest party…"

"And what happens if the blues and the reds get together…"

"I hope"said Percy, "the country will not be marooned"

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