You are correct - My mistake - Nandana contested in 1999. :)
However, there have been 3 General elections and ONE presidental election - After that. True if the JVP contest alone they will get only about 15 - 20 seats. However, that split is enough for UNP to win most districts. This has been proven in the past 2 General elections and win a easy majority of seats because of the Bonus seats.
In the MOST recent Presidental election MR could get ONLY 50.2% of the votes at the HEIGHT of his popularity. Everyone - JVP + JHU + LTTE all backed MR. even with that he got only a 180,000 vote majority. Look at the 2001 results - which was the last year the JVP contested on their own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_parliamentary_election,_2001
The JVP has about 800,000 votes on its own.
SO yes the JVP cant win many seats on its own but that is enough to bury the PA. Add to this the present COL and corruption in the country... MR needs the JVP more than the JVP needs MR.
Edited By - anizam - 12 Sep 2007 20:15:44 GMT |
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