Riding on its latest electoral victory in the recent local polls, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) has called for political stability within the government while promptly –and strongly- denouncing the latest Mixed Electoral System (MES) used in the polls.
“We call for our two leaders to unite for a stable government” voiced the Leader of ACMC and Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen (MP) on 20 February, addressing an ACMC press briefing in Colombo.
“The Mixed Electoral System (MES) has been used for the first time in the recent local elections. ACMC believes that the MES has been introduced to favour the two major parties in Sri Lanka and to politically deprive minority and smaller political parties by them” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: “We denounce changing Sri Lanka’s electoral systems in this way as per the whims and fancies of those in power so that it works only for them. The problems and effects of the new MES system is already evident with nearly half of them tied and hanging without a clear winner and unable to form their administrations. The latest news on this is that the March first week deadline to elect their rule also has been postponed to late March 2018 and we believe there is now a likelihood that it may get pushed even further to April’s new-year season -or later. Now imagine what will happen to the country when MES is introduced to Provincial and General Elections. Therefore we at ACMC call for reverting back to Preferential Electoral System immediately where an elected member can oversee and be responsible for not just his electorate but is free to work for a much larger area” he said.
Asked despite his criticism of MES, it is the new MES that has helped his ACMC to increase their local government seats nearly four-fold and bring their previous low 44 seats to a huge 166, Minister Bathiudeen agreed, but stressed: “Yes, but any change in our electoral system should be for the benefit and development of the people and the country and not for any political parties, including ACMC.”
Asked of ACMC’s way forward with the unity government amid developing political instability, he said: “We call for our two leaders to unite for a stable government. We support and call for (such a) a stable government. I thank all the voters of all ethnicities and religions who supported in ACMC’s victory.”
ACMC contested in 15 Districts in the latest local polls, and increased its winning local seats by a huge 277% to 166 from the previous total of 44. ACMC contested alone in some areas while in others, with the UNP, and in many locations in Eastern province contested with United Peace Alliance led by Hassan Ali. ACMC won 34 seats in Mannar, and another 12 in Mullaitivu and formed three Pradeshiya Sabhas in Mannar-Museli PS, Mantai West PS and Mannar PS. According Minister Bathiudeen, ACMC is currently working to form five Pradeshiya Sabhas in East after winning 64 seats in the Province-32 in Ampara, 18 in Trincomalee, and 14 in Batticaloa. ACMC won two in Kaluthara, one in Jaffna, 20 in Vavuniya, 12 in Mullaitivu, 12 in Puttalam, 8 in Kandy, 5 in Kurunegala, 4 in Anuradhapura, one in Gampaha, one in Kilinochchi, and 2 in Colombo. This is also the first time ACMC contested in Kurunegala, Kandy and Kalutara Districts.
Total votes received by ACMC in all 15 Districts are still being calculated, though it has polled a little over 180,000 in six identified Districts so far.