Officially, there is a third candidate. However Mooniram Heru has said he may drop out before Saturday.
Commentators have suggested that Mahabir is the favoured candidate for the team led by UNC Deputy Leader Roodal Moonilal, which comprises a few new faces and most of the incumbents seeking re-election.
Moonilal and his fellow deputy leader Suruj Rambachan have said publicly they have no preference for chairman. And Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has stated more than once that she is staying out of the election campaign and that she would not endorse anyone.
Mahabir has the support of the Maha Sabha, which is the largest Hindu organisation in Trinidad & Tobago with close connections with Transport Minister Devant Maharaj. However Maharaj has not made any public comment in support of Mahabir or against Warner. That leaves the contest open.
Mahabir is focusing his campaign on what he considers to be Warner's shortcomings. He told the Trinidad Express newspaper the current chairman cannot be trusted.
He also suggested that Warner is colluding with former UNC leader Basdeo Panday, whose Generation Next does not have a candidate for chairman. "It has come to my attention there is a significant degree of collusion between Mr Jack Warner and Mr Basdeo Panday," Mahabir told the paper without providing any evidence to back up his charge.
Moonilal and his fellow deputy leader Suruj Rambachan have said publicly they have no preference for chairman. And Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has stated more than once that she is staying out of the election campaign and that she would not endorse anyone.
Mahabir has the support of the Maha Sabha, which is the largest Hindu organisation in Trinidad & Tobago with close connections with Transport Minister Devant Maharaj. However Maharaj has not made any public comment in support of Mahabir or against Warner. That leaves the contest open.
Mahabir is focusing his campaign on what he considers to be Warner's shortcomings. He told the Trinidad Express newspaper the current chairman cannot be trusted.
He also suggested that Warner is colluding with former UNC leader Basdeo Panday, whose Generation Next does not have a candidate for chairman. "It has come to my attention there is a significant degree of collusion between Mr Jack Warner and Mr Basdeo Panday," Mahabir told the paper without providing any evidence to back up his charge.
He has raised the same issue with the team led by activist Sunil Ramjitsingh. However he did not mention the fact that the Moonilal team is also short of a candidate for chairman.
Mahabir is suggesting that since Warner colluded with the PNM to oust Suruj Rambachan as mayor of Chaguanas he would do it again. "Is Jack colluding with Louis Lee Sing to bring down the UNC, he colluded with Colm Imbert to bring down Suruj Rambachan," Mahabir told the Express.
Mahabir has also accused Warner of engaging in "character assassination''. However since Warner launched his campaign on Saturday he has focused on his record and ability to lead without attacking any candidate.Mahabir also denied that the 'hierarchy' of the UNC is supporting him. He stated that he decided to run as an independent because people asked him to do it.
"I am 39 years old, I'm an attorney at law and I'm studying now for a Masters in Communications and Public Relations, I feel I have the experience and competencies that can take a party forward, it has nothing to do with Jack Warner," he said.
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