Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha said he was reluctant to contest elections but stressed that this did not mean he intended to withdraw from politics.
Responding to questions from journalists on Friday (14), Lalkantha said he had contested the previous parliamentary election at the request of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
“Engaging in politics does not necessarily mean contesting elections. I have been involved in politics for 42 years. Politics is not limited to holding a parliamentary seat or a ministerial position,” he said.
Lalkantha said both he and the President could decide not to contest a future election, adding that such decisions would be made by the President and the party.
However, he said this did not mean that no one from the National People’s Power (NPP) would contest elections, noting that the party had many suitable candidates.
He further claimed that no political party within the Opposition currently posed a challenge to the NPP Government.
