Prakash to announce that he will seek COP leadership

Prakash Ramadhar is expected to make it official Monday and announce that he is seeking the leadership of the Congress of the People (COP).

The St Augustine MP is holding a news conference at which party officials say he will announce that he will run for the top post.

Ramadhar had been reluctant to oppose his leader, Winston Dookeran. However Dookeran cleared the way on Saturday by announcing that he would not run again,

Ramadhar is one of the founders of COP and is a favourite to take over the leadership of the party. Both he and Dookeran are strong defenders of the People's Partnership so there will be continuity if he wins.

Ramadhar's cabinet colleague Anil Roberts is also seeking the leader's job in the COP's internal election on July 3. The election would be based on a one-member, one vote system similar to what happens in the COP's coalition partner, the United National Congress (UNC).

  

Dookeran has said he will continue to hold his cabinet position as long as the Prime Minister him to. However he is not sure about whether he will contest the next general election, which is not due for at least four years.