Wednesday, 17 July 2013 00:03
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Invitation still open for all Muslim parties to contest under one banner at NPC poll: Hasen Ali
As political parties prepare to enter the fray in the crucial Northern Provincial Council election, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress yesterday announced it would ‘go solo’ under the tree symbol in not just the north, but at all three provincial elections scheduled to be held in September.
The SLMC, the country’s largest Muslim party, will not contest on the UPFA ticket at the North, North Western and Central Province polls, the party said in a statement yesterday. The decision was arrived at during a crucial meeting held at the Party Headquarters ‘Dharussalaam’ chaired by SLMC Chief and Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem, Party General Secretary M.T. Hasen Ali said.
“The decision was made after studying the options and the pros and cons of going solo. It was also based on the preference of the majority of the members of the party’s High Command, to contest under their own symbol of the tree to protect their identity,” the SLMC said.
Hasen Ali reiterated Minister Hakeem’s earlier proposal for all Muslim parties and groups to contest under one banner at the Northern Provincial Council elections. The SLMC General Secretary said that it would be the best option but admitted the party had not received a positive response so far from other groups. The SLMC appeal was still open for those parties who wish to contest with them, Hasen Ali said.
Preparations to conduct election campaigns in the respective provinces were also underway, he said.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress campaigned and contested independently at the Eastern provincial election held last year and having obtained five seats in the election, opted to ally with the ruling UPFA coalition and afford them a majority, despite requests from the TNA and UNP to join them to form a council. (DB)
