UNP tug-o-war – again

The UNP is embroiled more in a classic battle of wills between its Leadership and the de facto leader of its reformist movement, Sajith Premadasa. Premadasa’s reappointment as Deputy Leader did not transpire on Monday during the Working Committee meeting, with the UNP Leader unsure still as to whether he wants to reappoint the Hambantota MP as his lieutenant.

Ranil Wickremesinghe is reportedly still smarting over Premadasa’s decision to obtain time from the TNA to speak during the impeachment debate in Parliament, when the UNP did not allocate time for him. Party insiders also say that it is the view of the leadership that as Deputy Leader, Premadasa continues to pursue his personal political agendas, does not engage in the party’s mainstream activity and does little to ease the burden of the Party Leader.

With no reappointment, Premadasa who contested and won the Deputy leadership in December 2011, also loses his seat in the party’s apex body – the Working Committee – and will be relegated, unless reappointed, to being just another UNP MP.

It is the same fate suffered by former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya who contested Wickremesinghe for the leadership in 2011 and when defeated, lost his position in the party’s main decision making body.

Even as the reforms that were agitated for by a group of UNP members including Premadasa were all reversed when the UNP Convention in December last year ratified amendments to the party’s Constitution granting sweeping powers to Wickremesinghe who will hold office for six years under the new Constitution. He also has the power to appoint annually, all other key office bearers in the party.

Having been forced to endure a year with a rival who sought a change in the leadership as his deputy, the UNP Leader is using his new powers to keep Premadasa hanging. The tussle promises to plunge the UNP back into chaos, ensuring its weakness as an Opposition in the face of an increasingly powerful ruling party and certain defeat if a major election is declared in the near future.