Conflict in TNA over ITAK GS appointment

By Dinasena Rathugamage

A conflict has arisen in the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) following the appointment of Mavai Senathirajah as Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) General Secretary, on Saturday, according to party sources.

 The appointment was made at the ITAK office on Martin Road, Jaffna. The Chairman of the Election Commission had been informed of the appointment, sources said.

The post of ITAK General Secretary post fell vacant following the resignation of S. Thuraisingham.

The other constituents of the TNA, however, have opposed the appointment on the grounds that Senathirajah, who is also the leader of the alliance should not be given the ITAK General Secretary post.

The TNA comprises the ITAK, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE).

It had been agreed that two senior positions in the TNA would go to TELO leader Selvam Adaikkilanathan and PLOTE leader Dharamlingam Siddharthan, but that promise had not yet been fulfilled, senior party sources said.

Adaikkilanathan had been promised the post TNA spokesman and Siddharthan that of the party’s national organiser, sources said.

TNA seniors have also registered their displeasure at the delay in registering the TNA as a political party. However, they have agreed to meet again to sort out the issues, according to sources.