5th Column

Crown Prince's trend of losing has lasted thirty years
The Greens in the Land of No Return were disturbed about recent events in Paradise, and were discussing matters with Junius...

"Why do you think your nephew is still talking to Satellite?" RP wanted to know.
"Ah," said Junius, "don't worry about that; I'm sure he knows what he is doing..." Junius reassured.

"But," RP argued, "Satellite is talking to the Reds about overthrowing the Greens..."
"Talking to Satellite is not such a bad option," Lalith agreed, "we did that too, when we formed the Eagles..."

"In fact," Gamini agreed, "by talking to her we can even get an idea of what her plans are..."

"But," Ranjan cautioned, "don't forget that there is a difference…"
"What is that?" Lalith wanted to know.

"When you talked to her," Ranjan told Lalith and Gamini, "all of you were in the Opposition. Now, she is the boss..."

"I agree with that," RP said, "and that is why she can be dangerous especially because she has the power to dissolve the House..."

"But," Lalith said, "she has given an undertaking she would not do so..."

"And that is exactly why it is dangerous" RP argued, "because she generally does the opposite of what she says she will do..."

"Didn't we all?" asked Junius with a smile.

"Yes, we did," Gamini agreed, "but I don't think we should be too worried about what Satellite would do..."

"I am not too sure about that," RP said, "remember, she formed a 'Probationary Government' with the reds once just to keep our side out of power..."

"But that didn't last long, did it?" Lalith asked.

"Talking with the Blues is not a bad strategy…" Junius said, "especially if you know exactly what you want to do..."

"Why do you say that?" Ranjan asked.

"Why, I used to talk to the Crown Prince in the days of the Kalawewa by-election..."
"But he never took up that offer, did he?" RP asked.

"That's exactly what I meant..." Junius said.

"What do you mean by that?" Lalith wanted to know.

"I didn't really want the Crown Prince to take up the offer but I did want him to keep thinking that we were interested in him..."

"Why didn't you want him to take up the offer?" Gamini asked.

"We all know why, don't we?" Junius asked, "He is always on the losing side..."

"So, do you think that is what your nephew is doing now?" RP asked.

"It could well be," Junius said, "After all, he has now been in the game long enough..."

"But," Ranjan argued, "Satellite can still dissolve the House if she thinks she can strike a deal with the reds..."

"And wouldn't that be a disaster for us Greens?" RP queried.

"Not really," Junius said.

"Why do you say that?" Gamini asked.

"Not if that is what you want done..." Junius explained, "The trick is to get Satellite to think that dissolving the House would be best for her when in fact it would be better for us Greens..."

"We can see your strategy," Lalith said, "but what guarantee do we have that another election would be better for us?"

"I don't think that many floating voters would want to vote with the Blues if they are aligned to the radical Reds..." Junius said.

"But is that enough of a guarantee?" RP asked.

"We do have another guarantee..." Junius said.
"What is that?" everyone else asked.

"Why, the Crown Prince is on their side," Junius said, "that is a guarantee that has lasted thirty years..."

The others didn't want to disagree.

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