A powerful member of the Indian government has reportedly taken the lead in the campaign to get Economic Development Minster Basil Rajapaksa appointed as the Prime Minister at the next Cabinet reshuffle.

Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa’s businessman husband Thirukumar Nadesan is coordinating the campaign.

A young governing party MP from the Colombo District has recently told several of his friends that a powerful Indian government member has said that Basil Rajapaksa would be made the next Sri Lankan Prime Minister.

He has made this comment at the wedding of former Kotte Mayor Chandra de Silva’s daughter.

A massive campaign has been launched to get Basil appointed as the Prime Minister and several secret discussions on the matter have been held at the Hilton Colombo. Thirukumar Nadesan is the Chairman of the Hilton Hotel.

Several senior journalists, coordinating secretaries to several ministers and several opposition activists have participated in these secret discussions.

In this background, a media campaign has been launched under MP Namal Rajapaksa’s supervision against Basil Rajapaksa. He has used the services of several privately owned newspapers for the purpose.