India has urged the Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran to resolve the intra-party conflicts to facilitate the Government’s constitutional changes for the devolution of power as a political solution to the ethnic conflict.
Mr. Wigneswaran admitted that an Indian envoy took up the issue with him during a one-on-one meeting at his office in Jaffna on Thursday.
Following the meeting, Chief Minister Wigneswaran told the Jaffna media that he had no intention of dividing the Tamil National Alliance but he had some disagreements based on political ideologies.
“If the Constitution making is an open process, we will take part in it. We have enough experience and capacity to contribute to it,” he said.
A senior TNA leader said on condition of anonymity that the gap between the party leadership and the TNA dominated provincial council was widening.
Meanwhile, Opposition and TNA leader R. Sampanthan addressing provincial councilors and party supporters in Batticaloa said it was he who brought Mr. Wigneswaran to politics but now the chief minister had opted to go his own way.
“I am ready to step down from the leadership of the alliance if that is the wish of the people and party well-wishers. Some politicians who were rejected at elections are supporting the chief minister, but the people will continue to reject them,” he said
By S. Rubatheesan
ST