A fierce tripartite battle has commenced for the leadership of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) after the death of CWC leader Minister Arumugam Thondaman.
According to sources CWC Vice President Muthu Sivalingam, Member of the Uva Provincial Council Senthil Thondaman and son of the former leader Jeevan Thondaman are said to be vying for the spot.
A committee of five congress members has now been appointed to initiate discussions to select a leader and prevent the party from splitting over the issue.
The committee is being headed by Muthu Sivalingam and includes CWC senior Marimuttu, Uva Provincial Council Senthil Thondaman, and Central Provincial Council members Maradapandi and Sivarasa.
Meanwhile, the Thondaman family is said to have also brought in a proposal to elect the elder daughter of Arumugam Thondaman, Dr. Nachchiyar Thondaman to a party position to increase female representation in the CWC.
Sources also claim the family is against handing over the party leadership to anyone outside the immediate family. Political leaders of the government have also requested the CWC to appoint the son of Arumugam Thondaman 26-year-old Jeevan Thondaman as leader of the party sources said.
CWC sources say it is likely that the leadership issue will only be resolved following the general elections and will take time in the same manner where Arumugam Thondman was appointed as leader of the CWC following his grandfather, former CWC leader Saumymoorthi Thondaman’s death.
