Ramesh L. Maharaj made it official Thursday. He wants to be leader of the United National Congress and will run against Basdeo Panday in the party's internal election on January 24, 2010. And he said he has the support of his friend and colleague, Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner who told him in an email that he would support him "if I’m going up for the post and he will support other persons if I did not contest."
Warner is out of the country on FIFA business and is expected back in Trinidad over the weekend. He has said previously that he would support Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar and so far he has been silent on the latest development.
Commenting on the decision to run Maharaj made it clear that he had not discussed it with his Ramjack colleagues and that running for the leadership is not a Ramjack matter but a personal decision.
He said he considers it his duty to lead the party.
"I was elected deputy leader in 2001, I was recalled by the UNC in 2006 to help put the party into Government and from 1991 to 2000 I was responsible for the UNC’s political strategy — and we got the highest number of votes in Opposition and won the elections of 1995 and 2000," he told the media.
He explained that in his absence in leadership roles the party has declined and has never been able to return to government, which is why he believes it is necessary for him to take the lead and use his expertise and knowledge to win the internal election and then proceed to win the general election.
Maharaj said he sees himself as an alternative prime minister, adding that he has always put nation before self.
"I stood up to my leader and party on corruption before and those vying for leadership have condoned those things,” he said in an opening salvo of his campaign.
Some Ramjack members are surprised to hear that Maharaj is running for the leadership. Dr Rupert Griffith told media he learned about it from news reports and confirmed that it was not discussed with the Ramjack group.
He called Maharaj's decision "interesting". Griffith added, "The group’s general feeling is that it will support Kamla and with Ramesh now throwing his hat into the ring, it is an issue to discuss."
Panday is not bothered about Maharaj's challenge or the possibility that another top UNC MP might challenge him. He told reporters Maharaj's entry into the race is "worse than comical".
However he noted that the fact that so many people are considering running against him demonstrates that democracy is alive and well in the UNC.
"The United National Congress is the most democratic party that I know of. Do you think you can see this happening in the PNM, where Mr Manning is elected into the PNM in this way, surely not. Under our constitution, anyone has a right to contest the elections and what you are seeing here is the greatest democratic party in action," Panday told the Trinidad Express.
So far Maharaj is the only person who has confirmed an interest in running against Panday.
UNC deputy leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is considering it but has not made any formal announcement one way or the other.
Some prominent members of the party have already endorsed Panday. They include Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal, Naparaima MP Nizam Baksh and Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh.
Others are not saying much, including Panday's daughter, Oropouche West MP Mickela Panday who thinks the interest in the election is a healthy sign of democracy within the party.
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