Alliances... the bane of her existence (Part II)

Some very interesting developments have taken place since the posting of Part I of this particular blog. The JVP has pledged support to MR after he had accepted their twelve-point proposal, and the JHU has also pledged to throw in their weight behind MR for accepting their policies.

Some developments to reflect upon:

• Prior to brining down the UNP government, the PA-JVP combine made a huge cry about the CFA.
• Soon after coming assuming office, they continued to uphold and agreement.
• Went a step further and signed the PTOMS (a.k.a. pacha-TOMS).
• Continued playing the game by passing the ball from one court to another.
• MR walks out of the parliamentary debate on the PTOM (i.e. the Prime Minister... the leader of the Legislature is unable to make a decision or take a stand, and thus does not participate)
• Presidential race intensifies, and SC delivers verdict ending months of speculation
• MR seals a deal with the JVP, based on a 12 demands while CBK is in China
• CBK, in the convention confirming MR's nomination praises RW for the CFA and resulting development
• Quote from my wife "I'm sure she is actually, biologically two-tongued"
• MR pledges to abolish PTOMS and unilaterally change the CFA
• Other parties in the alliance disagree. Reaffirms commitment to CFA, PTOMS and federal structure...
• No policy statement from MR
• Continues to say "We should end war. Develop economy & country, etc, etc" How this would be done, or why it has not been done in the past is not addressed.

Is this a leader?

He seems so pre-occupied with obtaining the support of others, perhaps because of his own insecurity and lack of self-believe, that there is no communication coming forth from his own camp. Don't tell me who is with you, tell me what you're going to do -- and then I'll fall behind you if I agree with it.

Experience and history shows us that rather than mustering support and then looking for a vision, leaders first tend to have a policy around which support is generated. Mahatma Gandhi did not campaign door to door in India before choosing to fight the British. Martin Luther King did not look for numbers first. If we take the time to reflect back on any leader we can think of, we would realize that leaders first create the vision, and then rally the troops.

What is happening in the case of MR? We seem to be having a puppet-candidate, begging for support from whoever he could think of, agreeing to every conceivable condition put forth without considering the cause of consequences of each.

Recipe for disaster? Who knows? The Sri Lankan electorate is perhaps one of the most complex electorates to comprehend. It is difficult to fathom whether they are guided by dreams, wishful thinking, vociferous rhetoric or realistic expectations. Irrespective of which way the pendulum of the legislative and executive power has swung in Sri Lanka, it has always been a very interesting mix of all of the above.

As the Election Day nears, and the heat of campaigning intensifies, it would indeed be disappointing to observe the process from halfway across the globe, having foregone my right to franchise for the time being.