The JVP plans to form a front comprising all pro-democratic forces to defeat what it terms as move by the President to stay in power continuously for ten more years. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a secret plan to hold elections for provinces every three months and then move to a Presidential election after November 17, 2009 it claims.

"On November 17th, 2009, President Mahinda Rajapaksa completes four years in office and there are Constitutional provisions enabling him to hold a Presidential election two years before the due date. That will allow him to stay in office for two years and then swear in for the second term. This plan must be defeated," JVP Parliamentary Group leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a press conference at the National Library and Documentation Centre yesterday.

He said that there are five other provinces to which elections are to be held. Some could be dissolved by the due date and the Government could secure their victories since the isolated elections would not allow the dissenting and disgruntled to be united. "On the other hand the Government could mobilize all its power to win small isolated elections rather than all provincial councils at once. We have foreseen this tendency and the end of this trend is towards further dictatorship and authoritarian rule."

The JVP would form alliances with any anti-government group to defeat this despotic aim of the President, he said. "Earlier when we formed alliances or political fronts, we took into consideration the practical sides of other parties before entering into an agreement. This time, we would give priority to the need of rescuing the country which is being rushed towards dictatorship. We would form a wider front of pro-democratic forces," he said.

Day by day the government is escalating its plans to shrink democratic rights of the people, he said. "Journalists are attacked, some have commenced leaving the country. Protestors were attacked and thugs visit houses of trade union leaders. Day by day suppression is increasing. We have to put an end to this."

"We may have political differences but only if democracy survives would we be able to maintain our differences and principles. Thus, the need of the time is to join forces against Mahinda Rajapaksa Government rather than sticking to differences and principles," MP Dissanayake said.

As a first step to this programme in forming a wider front, the JVP has come up with a plan to form village level vigilante committees in the North Central and the Sabaragamuwa provinces to stand against government led election fraudsters. "We will form committees to provide additional security to the village polling booths. These committees would comprise not only the JVP but senior members belonging to other parties too except the UPFA," he said.