Manchurian Candidate

Arrival of a sturdy individual with a national image unpolluted from party politics adopted by an array of parties is a dare to dream proposition at a time political parties have become comfortable havens for traveling politicians to take refuge, in their missions to fame and gain.
The constitution provides for a distinguished individual away from party politics to emerge --- attracting the support of political parties to lead the nation with the support of the people. Where people have lost confidence in politicians, a man away from politics, respected greatly, can arrive at the scene. Possibly Sarath Fonseka arrived at the correct time to cross swords against the wrong person.
The move held great promise as a gathering point of the forces endeavoring to bring a government down. But the concept lost its glamour as the common candidate portrayed that he was unable retain the company of those who were or should have been with him, or to regain sufficient confidence among his emerging friends who were previously against him. He was not capable or competent for the assignment he was entrusted with ---- naturally being unaccustomed to the ways of politics.

Trap

Never again will the main political parties fall for the trap set by the JVP which frequently resorts to the devise of a independent candidate, due to their inability to field a presidential candidate of their own; a candidate as a means to obtain prime time on the platform to project themselves as a heir to the common property. In 1989, they promoted ex-supreme court judge Rajah Wanasundera (without his consent) in preference to Sirimavo Bandaranaike to contest Premadasa as the common opposition candidate at the Presidential election. The JVP in search of a candidate met Sarath Fonseka in search of endorsements.
Sarath Fonseka must feel the loneliness of a long distance runner on the campaign trail, as he has no heavyweight party cadres to guide him. He does not have the experienc, a party candidate would possess, since a party would confer the status of a presidential candidate, as a prize to a valued member, who has long experience and is well tested at elections. It is the party machinery that manages the organization of the campaign with --- old hands entrusted with assignments they are previously accustomed to. It is an achievement for Fonseka to have traveled the present distance with greenhorns and hired hands. Nevertheless, the sense of competitive combat is not on display, which the public deserves at a presidential election, as the UNP is not throwing its full strength, and the JVP at full strength makes insufficient impact.

Party candidate

A party has a recognized policy, discipline and internal controls that would prevent a fiasco like the Sunday Leader story. The supporting political parties distanced themselves from the candidate’s comments, on this occasion. They engaged in damage control exercises to safeguard their party positions and not the candidate, on the issue. A party candidate would not fire from his hip since he is answerable to the party. Sarath Fonseka is his own soul man, and takes pot shots at those whom he dislikes outside the arena of politics. He is answerable to none but himself. There are no party seniors to take him to task. At least Sarath Fonseka being the previous Army Commander has organizational skills, but is devoid of a coordinated coherent team of political operators. He is dependent on political parties who support him to provide the technical skills; his personal followers are talented more in other operations. A presidential election is too arduous a task for a one-man outfit.
What would happen if an “independent’’ becomes the President? He can run amok during his term of office, since there is no successor from a party to emerge, after him, to retain the confidence of the people. Unknown mystical men can take over the executive with personal loyalties only to the independent candidate, and run an administration as they desire. Holder of a powerful office will not have party men democratically elected answerable to the people, such as senior members of parliament, around him to keep control. Notwithstanding frailties and fallibilities, a political party has identifiable persons in the forefront known to the public, and stand exposed to public criticism. Who are Sarath Fonseka’s Invisible Men in the inner circle? They are yet to be introduced. There is still time for these ghosts to surface and show their faces in public. Or are there any persons of eminence in the cupboard? Are there military or legal heavyweights or a combination of a military-legal combine of a domineering nature that can disturb the foundations of democracy and justice? Would the UNP and JVP be gently eased to create a “framework away from party politics’’ --- to be ruled by individuals deemed desirable by the independent candidate? Whatever inherent deficiencies may be present in the UNP or JVP, their presence is a blessing for democracy in a campaign of an individual associated with the military. A political party finds its roots in the people unlike in the case of an unknown individual in politics.

Shades of opinion

A presidential candidate emerging from a political party is exposed to many shades of opinion, since a major party has many fractions within it, with variance in interest. The emerging candidate has the experience to grapple with an assortment of such party loyalists and become a coordinator of competing interests. An independent nominated person does not possess that background to mould him. He is like a parachutist who has fallen from the high heavens having been distinguished in a field away from politics. A greenhorn could be at the mercy of many. He does not possess a group of persons with common objectives as presented through a party. It could be a team of nondescripts uncoordinated as would be between the UNP and JVP. Whom will the independent candidate turn to, if he wins, as the differences between the two parties are insurmountable? He needs to conjure a balance but the lasting nature of the JVP is doubtful unless they are permitted to dominate, as they drifted away from Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapakse administrations. It is hard to lay faith on their staying powers with a Ranil Wickremasinghe led UNP.
Now that the battle is between a Party Candidate and an Individual Candidate the personalities of the two persons will play a crucial role rather than their policy statements. Who won the War for the People that brought Peace will extract the gratitude vote. Both hold legitimate rights to that vote.
Was it only the achievements on the battlefield or was it in consequence of a coordinated struggle against many evil forces that brought victory, will be uppermost in the minds of the people. Are people happy with events and incidents of the past years or do they want a change --- and will the new candidate successfully effect the desired change? Are the people happy with the present administration with its many deficiencies and hardships created, or would the new team usher the kind of society they promise? Would democracy meander with its many lapses as at present, or a military-legal combine surface to disturb democracy and justice? For sure, people have made their decision, by now.
An independent as a common candidate has failed to fire inspiration to attract diverse forces around a charismatic character that was envisaged once. The concept may have no more encores for any possible repeat performance.