Media owner's election participation invokes reactions in Jaffna
[TamilNet, Friday, 16 April 2010, 09:06 GMT]
Criticism has emerged from various quarters in Jaffna, including the senior activists of Ilangkai Thamizh Arasuk Kadchi (ITAK), against the way the TNA conducted its campaign promoting industrialist Eswarapatham Saravanapavan, a senior UNP member and the general manger of two leading newspapers, Jaffna based Uthayan and Colombo based Chudaro'li. Meanwhile, the chief editor of the newspaper has complained to his management that he is considering to renounce his editorship as criticisms are levelled against him for his stand in the last parliamentary election.
The editor has conveyed his position that the immense contribution of Uthayan and Chudrao'li to the national cause of Eezham Tamils should not be subjected to underestimation for the sake of a parliamentary seat. The editor, who was earlier approached by the TNA to stand in the elections had declined the offer. Later, the owner was approached by the TNA. In the meantime, ITAK senior members C. V. K. Sivagnanam and S. Kulanayagam, who contested the elections and lost in the race, have released media statements amidst rumours that they were planning to quit the party. The two prominent members of the ITAK have stated that they will continue to serve the people of Jaffna peninsula in a message to local media in Jaffna on Wednesday. The statement comes amidst allegations being raised that they were defeated in the parliamentary election by certain forces within the rank and file of the ITAK that sidelined them in the election campaign, informed sources in Jaffna said. Mavai Senathirajah, Suresh Premachandran, Vinayagamoorthy, Saravanapavan and Sritharan have won the seats by preferential votes.
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