By Zahrah Imtiaz
In the North, the battle for supremacy is between the two Tamil parties: the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which constitutes Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi(ITAK), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization(TELO) and People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam(PLOTE) are the main contenders and their main opposition is the Eelam People’s Democratic Party of Douglas Devananda.
Both parties promise a more equal and democratic future for the Tamil people and the much awaited political solution. Statistics over the years however, have shown that the TNA has had an edge at elections over other parties in the North. This year, however, the EPDP has chosen to come into the fray independent of the UPFA. In addition to this, new comers; the Crusaders for Democracy (CFD) – a party of former militants has stirred some interest.
The question is, whether these two parties would be able to dismantle the hold the TNA has had over the region in the last few years.