Will UNP opt for a Sonia-Congress model?

With United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe coming under severe pressure in the aftermath of successive election defeats, party insiders say it is very likely to opt for a model similar to India’s Congress party. Party moderates believe that such a leadership will prop the UNP to win future elections.

Most hardliners against Ranil Wickremesinghe wow to remove him from the party leadership and favour former President Ranasinghe Premadasa’s son Sajith Premadasa as leader, irrespective of the party constitution. Another section is adamant that he should stay on as party leader.

However, a moderate section, which is increasingly getting the attention of both sides insist that both should remain in the party while sharing the responsibilities of leadership. This group, including most senior UNPers point towards the role played by Rajiv Gandhi’s widow Sonia, in the governance of India.

India’s Congress Party was headed by assassinated former Premier Rajiv Gandhi after his mother Indira Gandhi herself was assassinated. However, after Rajiv’s death the mantle of party leadership fell on Italian born Sonia Gandhi. But after the Congress Party led alliance won the general elections, Sonia opted out of the Premiership and appointed Dr. Manmohan Singh to the post. However Sonia retained the party leadership and is behind most party decisions.

Sonia Gandhi, born Edvige Antonia Albina Maino in Lusiana, Italyon 9 December 1946 is the President of the Indian National Congress. She also serves as the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance in the Lok Sabha. Her reluctance stemmed out of the fact that the Indians would not accept a foreigner as their leader, though at that time she could have won their confidence even as Prime Minister. And after appointing Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, she is still at the helm of her party.

Similarly, the moderates in the UNP claim that Sajith alone cannot lead the party as he is better in addressing the root causes of the village grassroots, just like his father, but lacks the clout to garner international support. This aspect of attracting rural voters is what is lacking in Ranil, they claim. On the other hand, Ranil was better suited to canvass international support in economic and other fields, while woefully lacking the power to pull the village voter base.

This group insists that if Ranil and Sajith could come to an understanding between themselves, together they could pull the UNP out of the present situation.