Thamil Arasu Kadchi Needs Reform: A Call for Cleansing and Reorientation

Thamil Arasu Kadchi Needs Reform: A Call for Cleansing and Reorientation

The Thamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) is in dire need of a comprehensive cleansing process to realign its vision and restore its credibility. The party’s current structure, forcefully molded by the autocratic tendencies of M.A. Sumanthiran, has alienated the Tamil community and undermined ITAK’s foundational goals. Alarmingly, the dissenting voices within the party have either fallen silent or been rendered ineffective. This stagnation must end.

To move forward, Thamil Arasu Kadchi must shed the “Colombo-centric” and “Half-Sinhala” influence that has eroded its authenticity as a representative of Tamil aspirations. These factions, often described as acting like crabs in a pot—dragging others down when they try to rise—have confined the Tamil struggle within insular boundaries. Without removing these elements, the Tamil cause will fail to resonate with the international leaders who can make a difference.

Those who criticize Tamil leaders for engaging with international bodies, including US ambassadors, to advocate for confederalism or greater autonomy for Tamils, are not true Tamil nationalists. These detractors, regardless of their electoral success, have no place in Thamil Arasu Kadchi if their allegiance lies with Sinhala dominance and subservience. For them, Tamil nationalism is a threat because they are comfortable perpetuating a form of political slavery under Sinhala hegemony.

One critical step in the reform process is the removal of all individuals brought into the party’s committees by Sumanthiran. They must be replaced with true Tamil nationalists who prioritize the community’s rights and aspirations over personal or external agendas. Without this decisive action, Thamil Arasu Kadchi risks losing the trust and support of the Tamil people yet again.

Particular attention must be given to individuals like CVK Sivagnanam, whose long-standing ties to pro-establishment figures and opportunistic politics have further discredited Thamil Arasu Kadchi. Sivagnanam, once nicknamed “Anura Bandaranaike’s Mama” by Tamils, epitomizes the old, cunning political style that prioritizes self-interest over community welfare. His history of compliance with the likes of former Mayor of Jaffna Alfred Thuraiappah underscores his unsuitability for leadership in a party striving for Tamil sovereignty.

The time for half-measures is over. Thamil Arasu Kadchi must undergo a transformative process to rebuild trust, attract genuine Tamil nationalists, and realign with its core mission of advocating for Tamil rights on both domestic and international stages. Anything less will result in irrelevance and continued betrayal of the Tamil struggle.