The Tamil Diaspora is keen on the outcome of the first polls to be held in the North after the defeat of the LTTE which is a three pronged campaign involving the UPFA,ITAK and the TULF to wrest control of the two key local bodies in the Northern Province, Jaffna Municipality and the Vavuniya Urban Council, Tamil sources living abroad said.

When contacted the Leader of the All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC),Minister Rishard A.Badhuideen who is leading the UPFA Government campaign for the Vavuniya UC expressed confidence that his Party would have a resounding victory having political activists from the EPDP,EROS and TELO (Sri Sabaratnam Wing ) among its candidates.

Furthermore, with the blessings of Senior Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa the Government relaxed many of the restrictions placed on the movement of people and vehicles and had already commenced a major drive to develop Vavuniya into an economic hub between the North and the South. This would ensure UPFA victory, the Minister said.

He said that EPDP Leader and Minister Douglas Devananda was leading the UPFA campaign in the Jaffna Municipality and his popularity among the majority of voters which was on the rise would ensure an overwhelming victory for the UPFA.

Political sources in Vavuniya said that the PLOTE which has looked into the welfare of the displaced Tamil people over the last two decades enjoy vast popularity among the voters in the district.

When contacted,Leader of the PLOTE and Ex-MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan said that the rejection of nominations of the TULF was immaterial as it had been decided long ago that the three parties in their alliance, led by V.Anandasangari of the TULF,EPRLF (Naba Wing) would contest the Vavuniya UC under the PLOTE’s Anchor symbol.

We had also decided earlier to contest the Jaffna MC under the TULF and rising sun symbol and the campaign in the Jaffna Peninsula would be taken forward under the Leadership of the TULF Leader V.Anandasangari, Siddharthan further said.

He also said that the Alliance had commenced an effective campaign by explaining to the people why it should be returned victorious and leaflets are being distributed in connection with the party’s campaign.

Plote sources said that one had to wait and see how the ITAK which had a large voter base among the people of the Northern Province would perform without the support of the LTTE.

ITAK MP from the Vanni district Shivashakthi Ananthan said that if the polls were held in a fair and democratic manner, promises offered to the Tamil people would not deter their faith in the Tamil National Alliance which would be victorious.

General Secretary of the UNP MP Tissa Attanayake said the Party had a strong voter base in the Peninsula and Gampaha District MP Dr Jayalath Jayawardena was in charge of the UNP’s campaign in the North .

He is supported by UNP Mayoral candidate for Jaffna N.Satyendran.