TNA Ready to Form Local Government with Tamil Arasu Kachchi – MP Kugathasan
17-Jun-2025.
Member of Parliament and Trincomalee District Committee Leader, Shanmugam Kugathasan, stated that the Tamil Arasu Kachchi has made significant concessions and agreed to all demands made by the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in order to form joint local administrations in Trincomalee.
The party is now awaiting a response from the TNA.
He made these remarks while addressing media questions at the party office regarding how Tamil Arasu Kachchi, which holds a majority in several local bodies in the district, plans to form administrations.
According to Kugathasan, discussions were held with the TNA concerning joint governance of the Trincomalee Municipal Council, the Urban and Suburban Local Councils, and the Muttur Pradeshiya Sabha.
The TNA had requested the position of Deputy Mayor in Trincomalee, chairmanship for two years in the Urban and Suburban Local Council, and vice-chairmanship for two years in the Muttur Council.
Tamil Arasu Kachchi has agreed to all these conditions. Kugathasan added that he discussed this matter in Parliament with fellow MP Selvam Adaikalanathan on the 5th of this month, who had promised to visit Trincomalee on the 8th.
However, due to his busy schedule, he has yet to visit. Despite several phone calls, there has been no response, but Kugathasan expressed hope that he would respond once free.
In the recently concluded local government elections, Tamil Arasu Kachchi secured an outright majority in the Verugal Pradeshiya Sabha and assumed control on Jun 9.
Similarly, the party emerged as the majority winner in the Trincomalee Municipal Council, Urban and Suburban Local Council, and the Muttur Pradeshiya Sabha.
In the 2018 local elections, the party won only two divisions in the Kuchchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha, but this time secured four divisions. Talks are ongoing with parties represented in these councils to form administrations.
During the local election campaign, Kugathasan stated that he participated in nearly 50 small-scale meetings across Trincomalee District. A common question raised by the public was about the selection of chairpersons after the election. He had then explained that elected members of each local council would democratically elect a chairperson from among themselves.
Kugathasan said this democratic approach was emphasized to him by local intellectuals, party supporters, and the majority of party members. Accordingly, in the Verugal Pradeshiya Sabha, elected members nominated Senu Raman Karunanidhi as Chairman; in the Muttur Pradeshiya Sabha, Selvarethinam Pragalathan; in the Trincomalee Municipal Council, Kandhasamy Selvarajah as Mayor; in the Urban and Suburban Council, Durairasa Dhanaraj as Chairman; and in the Kuchchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha, Jegatheesan Nimalhasan was nominated as Chairman.
He confirmed that all these nominations and appointments were carried out in accordance with democratic procedures.
