S. Shritharan secures ITAK leadership 

Jaffna district parliamentarian S. Shritharan emerged victorious in the leadership election of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) party yesterday. He secured 184 votes to surpass his opponent, parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran who only secured 134 votes. 

Shritharan was the favoured candidate for victory, given that he is presently based in Jaffna, unlike Sumanthiran.

The 55-year-old hails from Neduntheevu in Jaffna and was educated at Jaffna Hindu College. He is also a graduate of the University of Jaffna and was an educator before joining politics. 

Notably, Shritharan is married to the sister of Velayuthapillai Baheerathakumar known by the nom de guerre Theepan who was a senior military commander in the terror outfit, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). 

Following his appointment yesterday, Sritharan paid respects at the Kanagapuram Thuyilum Illam (cemetery for fallen LTTE cadres). 

In early December, Sumanthiran and S. Shritharan applied to be the next leader of the ITAK as the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan and the leader of the ITAK Mavai Senathirajah are set to retire from politics this year.

The appointment of the new ITAK leader is anticipated to be followed by the selection of a new leader for the TNA, a coalition of Tamil political parties, including ITAK.