Assuarance given by government - says Hisbullah

He has placed his signature for the United Peoples Front Allaince (SLFA) nomination list at the President's House on Tuesday.

"I got an assurance that I would be appointed as the chief minister if we get more Muslim members elected to the provincial council", Hisbullah told BBC Sandeshaya.

Meanwhile, the SLMC has agreed to contest the Eastern Provincial Council elections together with the opposition.

This decision was taken at a meeting on Tuesday between the Leader of the opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem.

Earlier the government said the chief minister's position would be shared between a Tamil nominee and a Muslim nominee sharing the position for two and a half years each.

"This proposal had been changed. A delegation of Muslim clergy and dignitaries met with the president and asked for an appointment of a Muslim chief minister after the forthcoming elections. Afterwards, the delegation came to see me in Colombo". says M.L.A.M. Hisbullah.

He agreed to the invitation of the delegation and decided to cross over, Hisbullah told the BBC Sinhala Service.

The government has already declared that the ruling party will be contesting the provincial elections in a coalition with TMVP, the breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers.