To compare local elections to national elections is a grave mistake, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday said.
If someone assumes that winning a local election will ensure easy passage at a national level poll they may be in for a rude shock, Deshapriya said.
He said there were several instances in history where the opposition has secured easy victory in local elections against the government in office and also instances where these victories have been reversed in a short period of time.
The Elections Commission chairman said no one can assume they had the power to topple a government in office, just by winning a local election.
Speaking further, Deshapriya said that another myth popular among the public is that all provincial and local government elections should be held on a same date.
“No country in this world holds their provincial or local government elections on the same date.
There is no requirement to hold local elections on the same date.” he said speaking to the media at the Election Commission premises yesterday. “When we were young, the local elections were held separately in each urban council, town council and village council. There was less interest on those local elections. Even the party leaders didn’t participate in these election campaigns. Now they are comparing these local elections to national elections, while demanding them to be held on the same day,” Deshapriya pointed out.