More low key campaigns launched supportive of Tamil Common Candidate in N&E

Tamil Common Candidate P. Ariyanenthiran is being welcomed at his hometown Batticaloa, East earlier this week. Pix: Northeastern Monitor

Several grassroot level low key campaigns and pocket meetings are being carried out across North and Eastern provinces supportive for the candidacy of Tamil Common candidate P. Ariyanenthiran who urged voters to cast their votes to him as a symbolic vote for the Tamil cause.

Earlier this week, Mr Ariyanenthiran was in Batticaloa, his hometown for election canvassing activities. He was welcomed by locals and civil society groups with grand welcome programmes that include Tamil traditional dance and music performances. 

Speaking in Jaffna today (13), the Tamil Common candidate said that he had observed in his campaign trail in recent weeks that there has been significant support to him compared to in initial days in the eight districts of the two provinces.

Mr Ariyanenthiran who is contesting in the upcoming polls under conch shell said he is just merely a 'symbol' and urged Tamil people to vote for him to register the collective disappointment of Tamil people. 

"Some people are saying to vote for us- Tamil candidate and mark the next preference vote for another candidate. This is not the stand of the Common Candidate Framework- Tamil Pothu Kattamaippu. We urge the people to vote only to conch shell symbol alone," Mr Ariyanenthiran said. 

He also claimed that there has been a 'sudden' interest in the votes of the Tamil people since it became evident that none of the Southern candidates are going to secure more than fifty per cent of the votes. 

"Since Tamil peoples' votes will be decisive in these elections, many politicians are camping in the both provinces for the last few days to secure more votes- similar to putting up sweet shops in temple festivals," he noted. 

Meanwhile, several civil society organizations, clergy and religious leaders along with grassroot level outfits extended their support to the Common candidate - as a new start in the journey of Tamil struggle where Tamil people actively take part in the process rather than being a reactor in the past.

Priests and Religious for Justice and Peace, North-East today(13) extended support to the Tamil Common Candidate considering the structural genocide agenda the Tamil Nation is subjected to today and the longstanding failure to resolve the ethnic conflict in the county. 

"The Tamil Homeland continues to be subjected to forced removal of the Tamil Nationalist agenda. This has various forms and dimensions- for example, the secession of Tamil Homeland, increasing militarization and continued intimidation. The lands are being acquired forcefully and subjected to Sinhala Buddhist colonization agenda. The long term survival of Tamil people is also threatened. Amidst all these developments, a Common Tamil Candidate is brought before us as a collective symbol of Tamil unity. In these critical times, our belief is that Tamil peoples' selection will further strengthen the Tamil cause," the statement issued by the priest body said. (Northeastern Monitor/ September 13/2024)