ITAK Chooses Not to Field Presidential Candidate, Plans Talks with Major Contenders

The Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) has announced that it will not field a candidate for the upcoming Presidential election. Instead, the party plans to engage in discussions with major candidates, according to Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran.

On July 22, a coalition of Tamil political parties and civil organizations convened in Jaffna and reached a consensus to endorse a common Tamil candidate for the Presidential race. This coalition includes the Tamil People’s National Organisation, led by MP C.V. Wigneshwaran, the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO). The agreement signifies a unified front among these groups, aimed at ensuring a stronger representation of Tamil interests in the national political arena.

Notably absent from this coalition is ITAK, highlighting differing strategies within Tamil political factions. The Presidential election in Sri Lanka is scheduled for September 21. (LankaXpress.com)