Mr. Hisbullah says UPFA cannot expel him from the PC

He told BBC Sandeshaya that the two Muslim members of National Congress (NA) pledged to support his group.

The leader of the National Congress, Minister MLM Athaulla, has pledged full support to Pillayan on Friday.

Protesting President Rajapaksa’s move to appoint Mr. Pillayan as the Chief Minister of the east, Mr. Hisbullah and two other Muslim councillors decided to work as an independent group in the ruling coalition.

Not against Pillayan

With two more councillors pledging support to the group, ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is effectively made a minority in the eastern Provincial Council (PC).

	Dissidents say their campaign is not against CM Pillayan

Mr. Hisbullah did not reveal the names of the two councillors.

The UPFA won 20 seats while the main opposition, United National Party (UNP) secured 15 seats in the 37-member council at the 10 May elections.

MLAM Hisbullah added that the ruling UPFA cannot expel the group from the council as he contested from a separate party in the alliance.

Three Muslim dissidents have contested the eastern PC elections from All Ceylon Muslim Congress (ACMC), a constituent party of the UPFA.

A group of Muslim ministers including Risath Baduddeen, Amir Ali and Najeeb Majid also support his views opposing appointing a Tamil member as the CM, Mr. Hisbullah said.

However he insisted that his objection is not against Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan also known as Pillayan.

The dissident group is to decide on the future course of action after visiting Batticaloa on Monday, he added.

The dissident Muslim leader said he also wanted to avoid any Tamil – Muslim clash in the east due to the crisis over the appointment of CM.