Former top judge Wigneswaran to lead TNA in Northern polls race
Tuesday, 16 July 2013 01:45
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By Dharisha Bastians
Former Supreme Court Justice C.V. Wigneswaran will be a key contender for the first ever Chief Minister at the election for the recently constituted Northern Provincial Council after the Tamil National Alliance unanimously decided on his candidature yesterday.
The decision to field the former Supreme Court Judge who hails from the Jaffna District, follows a tussle of several days over the candidacy with TNA General Secretary Mavai Senathirajah insisting on being named Chief Ministerial candidate and receiving the backing of several constituent parties within the Alliance, party sources said. TNA Leader R. Sampanthan and strongman M.A. Sumanthiran were keen to field the high profile judge, considering the political implications of the move.
Discussions late last week and over the weekend ended in a stalemate but the party’s coordinating committee appointed to oversee the NPC poll preparation unanimously agreed to nominate Justice Wigneswaran to the position at a meeting held yesterday at the Alliance office, the TNA said in a statement. “C. V. Wigneswaran is a much respected public personality and we appeal to the voters in the Northern Province to wholeheartedly support C. V. Wigneswaran, the Chief Minister candidate of the TNA and all other candidates who will be nominated for election,” the TNA statement added.
The former Supreme Court judge will contest under ITAK’s ‘house’ symbol and will be a main contender for the Chief Minister position with the TNA expected to perform well in the September poll.
The choice of Justice Wigneswaran for the TNA candidacy was motivated by the need to field a credible candidate beyond reproach that could earn the respect of local voters and the international community even as the Tamil issue takes centre-stage during the crucial election, TNA sources said.
