Sri Lanka’s fifth Presidential election campaign will get underway with full swing from tomorrow following the accepting of nominations of 41 candidates who have made deposits up to yesterday(Sunday 06) including the main contenders – Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Sajith Premadasa.
The winning pendulum could swing either way among the two main contenders who are hell bent on winning the presidential poll in a closely contested poll which is expected to go for the second preferential vote counting to determine the winner, political analysts claimed.
The number of 41 runners in the Presidential race will be a serious challenge for politically in experienced,as well as poor public orator and weak debater like Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
These candidates can attract disenchanted anti-Rajapaksa voters back into the electoral contest.
This would increase in the voter turnout and a corresponding increase in the number of extra votes Gotabaya Rajapaksa needs for an outright win, analysts said.
The winning in the presidential race could become a tough struggle for him as he has already lost public appeal due his early start and if other candidates ask their supporters to cast second and third preferences against Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Then there will be a clear possibility of Gotabaya Rajapaksa of losing the presidential election in second or third counts, they predicted.
However if the SLFP decides to back Gotabaya in the run up to presidency, then it will be a different ball game for UNF candidate Sajith Premadasa, they added.
(LI)