Chandresh will nominate Panday for UNC leader; other MPs rally around Panday

With all signs pointing to the United National Congress (UNC) doing an about face and holding its internal election soon, some UNC MPs are openly supporting Basdeo Panday for leader.

Panday had relinquished that post in the last party election that saw Winston Dookeran elected unopposed as political leader; Panday was elected chairman. However when Dookeran quit and formed his Congress of the People (COP) the party agreed to put Panday as caretaker leader until the next internal vote.

He and Jack Warner were the joint leaders of the UNC Alliance in the 2007 election when the party won 15 seats and returned to Parliament in Nov. 2007.

But Panday promised during that election that he would not fight another election. At the final pre-election rally of the UNC Alliance at Aranguez on Nov. 3, 2007 he told tens of thousands of supporters:

"I remember my struggle to unite this country...I have no regrets. As I come to the end of a very long journey I ask you to send me off in a blaze of glory...Stand all! Bow to no one."

It was to be his last curtain call. But times have changed. He is now at war with the man who helped carry the torch in that election. And now he is saying he will lead again is that's what the people want.

"If they want me to serve, I would serve to the best of my ability," Panday told the Trinidad Express, noting that there is a process that the party will follow in choosing its leadership.

The UNC constitution provides for one-member-one-vote elections, but only financial members can nominate and elect the executive, including the political leader.

UNC founding member Kelvin Ramnath, who has been a Panday ally from the early days of the United Labour Front (ULF), told the Express the party needs Panday now and he will support him for leader.

"I think having regard to the state of the party at this time, we need his presence. He is a unifying force in the party, regardless of what people say," Ramnath said.

Panday had kicked Ramnath out of the party and replaced him with Ramesh L. Maharaj only to bring him back in 2001 to fight back at Maharaj and his Team Unity. Ramnath is the only politician who has remained with Panday from the early days.

Despite his past quarrels, Ramnath remains behind Panday. He told the paper a lot of people throughout the country support Panday because they are "outraged" over the actions of the Ramjack faction.

Would he consider deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar for leader? "She is free to make herself available for nomination," he told the Express adding, "I don't think her time has come yet." But he will support her for deputy leader.

Deputy leader Wade Mark also believes Panday should run again. And one of Panday's staunchest supporters, Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma plans to nominate Panday for leader.

Panday's brother, Subhas, also supports his brother, but told the Express only his brother would decide whether he wants to stay or go.

Adesh Nanan, who gave up his Tabaquite seat to allow Maharaj to run in 2007 and was later rewarded by Panday with a Senate seat, does not suspect anyone would want to challenge Panday for the leadership. Panday has proven himself and there is full confidence in his leadership, Nanan said.