Forming CMC administration marred by political drama

By Yohan Perera   

Forming of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) administration has run into a complex situation with an independent group which pledged support to National People’s Power (NPP) running into trouble after the names of its two members were gazetted.   
Member of the Independent Group 4 S. Thirukeshwaran which contested under the lamp symbol told media that he and few other members of the group will meet the members of Election Commission and lodge a complaint against the group leader. Mr. Thirukeshwaran had pledged to fight against the decision of the leader whom he accused of use of force in deciding who will go to the council.   
The independent group 4 earlier pledged its support to the NPP.   Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman alleged that a certain Deputy Minister is engaged in horse trading with opposition members of the CMC to woo them into his party.   
SJB MP Ajith P. Perera who presided at the party’s daily press conference said his party had decided on its Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Colombo for a possible vote by the members of the CMC. “We don’t want to reveal names as the battle to form the administration of CMC has reached dangerous proportions,” he said.   
He said the party is confident that the next Mayor of Colombo will be from the SJB. MP Perera said the SJB is willing to give Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman and Deputy Chairman posts to other opposition parties as well, in some local bodies.