The chances of either Kamla Persad-Bissesar or Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj defeating Basdeo Panday in the battle for political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) will deteriorate from the unconditional support that a majority of UNC parliamentarians have pledged to Panday, says political analyst Dr Bishnu Ragoonath. Ragoonath said a recent letter of confidence in Panday from ten MPs and five Senators in the UNC could threaten the chances of his competitors' success in the UNC's internal elections on January 24. Panday, Persad-Bissessar and Maharaj were engaged in a fight for the office of political leader of the UNC. "It does in fact impair the chances of the opposing candidates," Ragoonath said in a telephone interview yesterday.
It was reported that on December 18, less than five of the 19 UNC Parliamentarians–Persad-Bissessar, Maharaj, Jack Warner and Winston Peters–failed to sign a joint letter that affirmed support for Panday and expressed confidence that Panday would "continue to lead us into the future." Ragoonath said the letter was expected to influence Panday's chances of remaining political leader of the UNC and could give him a better chance of securing victory through the renewed confidence in his leadership. He stressed, however, that the effect of the MPs' confidence in Panday as UNC political leader would be reflected through their ability to mobilise support for him among eligible voters.
"For all intents and purposes, the issue is not really whether they would sign a letter to give support but rather the extent to which they are mobilising on the ground to ensure that the rank and file follow their leadership... If there is no mobilisation except for a simple letter, then it does not make a difference one way or the other," Ragoonath said. He added that much would depend on those UNC MPs convincing voters to vote for Panday.
