Jaffna TNPF candidate Manivannan: ‘I am not a traitor’

Lawyer Visvalingam Manivannan, who was a candidate of the Tamil National Peoples Front (TNPF) in last month’s Parliamentary elections in the Jaffna district, has rejected claims that he had betrayed the party’s principles.

“I am not a traitor,” Manivannan said on Wednesday in a Tamil telephone interview with Canadian CMR media channel.

He also indicated that he was ready for more talks with TNPF leader and Jaffna district MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam.

Manivannan pointed out that he was reluctant to contest the elections in 2020 but changed his mind at the request of Ponnambalam.

Manivannan stressed that he remains committed to Tamil nationalist goals and to further strengthen the party.

He also indicated that the preferential voting system could create internal rifts in political parties during election campaigns..

The TNPF, which has 2 MPs in Parliament, was launched in 2010 as a breakaway faction of the Tamil National Alliance.

Manivannan is one of the TNPF’s founders but disputes between him and the party leadership have been highlighted in recent media reports.

Manivannan has been criticized for plotting against TNPF leadership but he rejected those claims in Wednesday’s interview. He is also reportedly facing an internal party inquiry.

He stressed that his ego would not stand in the way of achieving the TNPF’s objectives.