Minister Mano Ganesan says that a certain group had proposed that he contest the 2015 Presidential Election as a separate group and that he was promised millions of rupees in order to do so. 

He was addressing a ceremony held in Kotahena today (20) to facilitate the leaders of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) in view of the one year anniversary of the national government. 

The Minister of National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages stated that they wanted him to be the presidential candidate and with the backing of Palani Digambaram and V. Radhakrishnan.

Without naming any specific individuals, he said that a certain person dreamt of splitting the Tamil people’s votes by having them contest separately. He said they were offered millions of rupees for this but they turned down the offer. 

Ganesan claimed that just like the 2005 general election when LTTE leader Prabhakaran was given money to stop the people in the North from voting and Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated, they also tried to split the Tamil votes and win the Presidential Election. 

The minister said that he did not reveal this matter all this time but today he will confirm that it is true.