The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) will formally announce its decision on whom to support in the upcoming election on the 14th or 15th of this month, senior leader Mavai Senathiraja told reporters, adding that the party will issue an official statement confirming its stance.
This news comes amidst internal crisis and infighting within the party, as two factions are at odds. The faction led by Sumanthiran has declared its support for Sajith Premadasa, while the majority of the party backs the common Tamil candidate. Senathiraja made these comments after an ITAK meeting in Vavuniya this week.
"Regarding how Tamils should vote in this election, our party has always supported self-determination for the Tamil homeland. Our policy is that the ethnic issue needs to be resolved. All of this is outlined in the manifesto of the common Tamil candidate. These matters have been discussed and agreed upon. Nevertheless, we will formally announce our stance on the 14th or 15th of this month," he said.
When asked if he had provided conflicting reports on the party's support for Ranil Wickremesinghe or Sajith Premadasa, he clarified that he was not present at some of the meetings where those decisions were made. "It's wrong for the press to take my comments out of context," he said. "We will have our discussions and come to a unanimous decision."
The split within the party has left its members in disarray, and the latest developments highlight the ongoing division, which has contributed to a steady decline in the party’s popularity.
The ITAK, also known as the Federal Party, has a rich history dating back to S. J. V. Chelvanayakam, who is fondly remembered as the father of Eelam Tamil nationalism. In 2001, with the overt backing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the party led the newly formed Tamil National Alliance (TNA) coalition.
