Political maneuvering begins for Jaffna elections

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
At least seven parties are expected to begin filing nominations for the planned Jaffna Local council elections today. The EPDP, PLOTE, TELO, TULF, EPRLF, EROS and the Sri Lanka Progressive Party said that they will file nominations for the Jaffna Municipal Council elections.

The governing People's Alliance (PA) is expected to announce its decision today.

The EPDP might field its chief Jaffna organiser, Jegan as its Mayoral candidate for Jaffna Municipal Council, informed sources said yesterday.

The General Secretary of the TELO is considering the possibility of running for the chairmanship of Valvettithurai urban council.

Meanwhile EROS sources in Colombo said they are trying to negotiate a no contest pact for the 13 Pradeshiya Sabhas in Jaffna. They said they might contest the Pt. Pedro Urban Council and Pt. Pedro Pradeshiya Sabhas if they successfully negotiate the pact.

An EROS spokesman said that PLOTE and EPRLF were agreeable to their arrangement. But the EPDP and TELO with whom they discussed the matter have not yet responded.

The TULF has not been consulted on this matter, said a PLOTE source.