Rishad’s ACMC clinches surprise victory in WP elections

Monday, 31 March 2014 00:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Colombo District voters vote in ACMC to WPC
Jackpot in our first time outside North and East: Rishad
Majority votes from Colombo North Polling Div

Political newcomer All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) bagged an immediate election victory in its first ever election tussle outside the North and East.

“My party and I thank the people of the Colombo District for placing their confidence in us. This victory tells us that there is a need for change. The ACMC and I stress that we will do our best to fulfil this mandate given to us,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce and Leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress Rishad Bathiudeen on 30 March. Minister Bathiudeen was addressing members of the ACMC high command and working committee in Colombo in the aftermath of the party’s victory in the recent Western Provincial Council elections. The ACMC grabbed a single seat from the forty seats on the council. “In the western provincial elections, we, the ACMC, contested alone. We never had an ACMC party membership base in Colombo. This is the first time that we contested outside the north and east provinces. This is also the first time that we are contesting under our own symbol the peacock,” said Minister Bathiudeen. “Despite not having a membership base, we decided to enter Colombo’s race for the betterment of the people in the Colombo District. Realising ACMC’s sincerity of purpose, on the day of elections, the people of Colombo bestowed their confidence in us. My party and I thank the committed voters of Colombo District for placing their confidence in us. “The ACMC’s current national standing is three parliamentarians, three provincial council members in the Northern Province, three Provincial Council members in the Eastern Province, two Urban Councils (Kinniya UC and Kattankudy UC), two Pradeshiya Sabhas (Oddamavady and Museli), a Municipal Council member (Kalmunai), making a total ACMC representation in the country at 61 reps.” ACMC fielded 24 Muslim, 11 Tamil and five Sinhalese candidates for the Colombo District in the 29 March Western PC election. Of ACMC’s Colombo District total votes, 39% came from the Colombo North Polling Division while 29% came from Colombo Central. Voters in all the 15 Polling Divisions in Colombo District voted for the ACMC - in that, in addition to Colombo North and Colombo Central, voters in Kolonnawa, Borella, Dehiwala, Colombo West, Ratmalana, Colombo East, Awissawella, Kotte, Moratuwa, Kaduwela, Kesbewa, Maharagama, and Homagama Polling Divisions also backed the party.