Fathoming JVP predicament

Last week the monotony of the New Year news was broken by the exit of Somawansa Amarasinghe, former Leader of the JVP from its fold. The news hungry media gave the incident wide coverage making it the lead story. Whatever the reasons for his exit Somawansa had timed it perfect.

 

As usual, speculation is rife. Various hypotheses are exchanged. They range from the absurd to the probable. Ours is an attempt to fathom the JVP predicament and unravel the reasons that may have led to the exit of Somawansa. It is not an attempt to justify or blame him or the JVP.

 

Last week we spoke about the period of transition that is current. The event under discussion is also symptomatic of the transition. Though Somawansa received maximum publicity as anticipated he has been quite cautious in utilising it as his public statements on his conduct exposes a soft attitude towards his former colleagues and the party. Criticism is only minimal or appears to be minimal. He only laments that the JVP has failed to utilize the present situation to emerge as a strong alternative to the two major political parties- the UNP and the SLFP. The party and its members and leaders are still held in high esteem by him, he admits. Then why on earth leave it? Obviously some disillusionment. What disillusionment? 
Apparently, it has to do with the role of the party in the present political situation, especially in view of the forthcoming general election. That is why he has rushed to the Commissioner of Elections seeking a symbol for a party he would establish soon.

He seems to be a man in a hurry.

 

He is critical of the JVP on two issues. One, he states that it is flirting with the UNP or collaborating with it. Two, he says that at the present instance it is not doing enough to emerge as an alternative to the two major political parties.

 

Both criticisms were levelled against the JVP from the traditional Left and others even during the time Somawansa was leading it. Hence there is nothing new in this charge. It only shows that the perception of the former Leader about his party has now changed. He gives an example to justify his disenchantment with the party. He says the party is reduced to three MPs from 41 it had earlier. Everybody knows that it was the result of an alliance it forged with the People’s Alliance when he was the Leader. Apparently, he is visualising a situation in which the JVP could again increase its Parliamentary representation in an alliance with some other party of consequence. He is apparently disillusioned that the party is not bothered to forge such an alliance. Hence, he seems to be inclined to form a new party and forge an alliance with some other parties and function as a parallel political organization not unfriendly to the JVP. How far he could succeed is still a moot question. We could only wish him good luck.

 

However, his position betrays a disagreement with the strategy and tactics of the party, especially in relation to its policy on alliances. In this, the predicament of the JVP is not exclusively its own. Almost all Left parties have faced such a predicament in their history. This arises from the diverse views on the correlation between the minimum and maximum programs of the party at a given time. Alliances with broad social forces and parties in the interests of immediate concerns, in the interest of the minimum program often has the risk of losing the party’s independence which is necessary for the pursuit of its maximum program. Here the JVP going by their own experience is following a cautious ‘once bitten twice shy’ policy. Hence their policy of going all against the Rajapaksa Presidency while not explicitly supporting the principal contender to the hilt.

 

Somawansa’s reading of the objective reality seems to be more a result of voluntarism and based on a different assessment of the capabilities of the party to obtain a substantial increase in its Parliamentary representation. Rather than causing a vertical split in the party, he seems to be looking forward to harness the support of the non-committed voters who are disillusioned with the UNP and SLFP but not attracted towards the JVP for reasons emanating from history, personal experience, social mileu, tradition etc. 

 

Somawansa’s exit from the JVP is technically a resignation and not a split in its ranks. Whether it would cause a depletion of the party rank and file and result in a split is yet to be seen. JVP is a party that has weathered much severe storms including state terror as well as rightist and Leftist vertical splits. It is certain to overcome the present predicament too.