(Trinidad Guardian) The Opposition UNC’s December 5 leadership contest will be a three-way race following yesterday’s decision by UNC Senator Vasant Bharath to challenge incumbent UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and compete with contestant Roodal Moonilal for the top post.
Bharath confirmed his decision to contest yesterday after a final meeting with his team, which will form his slate that includes UNC San Juan/ Barataria MP Fuad Khan. “This is more than just an internal UNC election for me, it’s about fully rebuilding and taking the party forward and moreso all about T&T’s future,” Bharath added.
Bharath was scheduled to deliver remarks at last night’s Divali Nagar celebration in Chaguanas. When Persad-Bissessar addressed the Nagar audience on Thursday, she apologised for losing the September 7 general election and asked for support in her leadership bid. Certain religious teachings, she noted, showed that sometimes kinsmen had to go up against each other to do the right thing.
Moonilal, who also addressed a Nagar audience on Friday, said he was aware of heartbreak over the general election outcome and promised “brighter days ahead.”
Bharath, 58, has been meeting with various constituencies over the last three weeks to gauge members’ opinions and decide if he should contest. Following yesterday’s meeting where he confirmed his decision, he told the Sunday Guardian, “I’ve met with many of the major constituencies, executives, activists and influential people in the party and today I met with a group which will become my slate and will be launched after Divali.
This has been a complex decision to arrive at as many things had to be taken into consideration. But with the encouragement of family, friends and my team I’ve decided to contest.”
Bharath, a chartered accountant with a master’s degree in law and an MBA degree, has been involved in politics for just over 20 years and was deputy chairman of the UNC under the former (2007) Panday administration during which time he was tipped as Panday’s successor. He was St Augustine MP. He unsuccessfully contested the St Joseph seat in the September 7 general polls.
On factors prompting his decision, Bharath said, “I particularly believe many institutions of the party have broken down, some irretrievably so. If we have to present ourselves as a credible alternative for the people, we must rebuild. It’ll be a long, painstaking process, but I’m up for the task. We’ll require all hands on deck and I’ll seek to do that immediately after the election.”
On his rivals, Bharath said, “I prefer not to comment on the pros and cons of either. Mrs Persad-Bissessar and Dr Moonilal, I’m sure each will make their respective cases in the next few weeks. My campaign will focus on the work we’ll do to rebuild UNC into a viable party to confront challenges facing T&T.” He acknowledged Persad-Bissessar would have residual support from the recent general election.
“She’s been a very popular leader and prime minister. But I feel it’s time for us to move on.
“As a party, I think we’ve been waiting to exhale and though she’s much loved, our message has to be that T&T is bigger than any person and we must put country first.”
Bharath, who isn’t a member of the House of Representatives—though his two rivals are—said he fought a difficult marginal seat in recent elections.
“I clearly felt our election strategy was wrong for a national campaign. I withdrew from the ‘No Rowley’ campaign after my first three appearances there since I didn’t believe it was a campaign that would sit well with the public and I registered my objection to this.
“However, what’s important now is rebuilding party institutions. I’ve mapped out spending two years for this within our plan for the party’s future.”
Bharath said: “If the UNC has to present itself as a national party, we must have national support and similar appeal.
“My slate will have many people who have such appeal and can command crossover support.
“T&T in the last ten years has become very divided, almost to a dangerously low point and trust needs to be rebuilt. We must bring the races back together. The politics of our slate reflects the diversity of T&T.”
Khan, who had knocked Persad-Bissessar’s leadership and called for her to step aside, confirmed yesterday he was supporting Bharath. Several East-West corridor UNC units are also supporting Bharath. Khan said Bharath’s supporters included MPs Ramona Ramdial, Rudy Indarsingh, Bhoe Tewarie and ex-UNC ministers Brent Sancho, Stacy Roopnarine, Steven Cadiz, Garvin Nicholas and Jairam Seemungal. Khan said Bharath was also supported by businessmen.
While Cadiz confirmed he would support Bharath, Tewarie said yesterday he wasn’t involved. Nicholas said he hadn’t decided on whom he would support. Ramdial and Roopnarine also said they had not decided. Sancho said he hadn’t decided but had always admired Bharath’s skills. Cadiz said he was supporting Bharath since, “I think T&T has moved away from tribal voting. Recent elections have seen voters moving towards people they feel would best represent them.
Vasant is viewed as being one of those with national appeal. “His political career has shown him to be a true Trinbagonian at heart and he doesn’t come across as being representative of only one particular group. He’s shown general appeal, is intelligent, well respected and as a minister and MP was performance-oriented with T&T in mind.”
Persad-Bissessar has support from several of the UNC’s 18 MPs including MP Barry Padarath, Suruj Rambachan, Rodney Charles, Rushton Paray, Dr Lackram Bodoe, David Lee, and others including certain former UNC MPs, the UNC’s six corporation chairmen, the UNC’s women’s arm and youth arm.
Women’s arm head Roopnarine has, however, maintained distance from her group’s release supporting Persad-Bissessar. Yesterday, Persad-Bissessar didn’t answer calls regarding Bharath’s entry. Moonilal officially launches his campaign at 7 pm next Thursday at Rienzi Complex and will announce his slate, according to former UNC senator Devant Maharaj, who is among his supporters. Moonilal didn’t answer calls yesterday.
Moonilal’s attorneys recently wrote the UNC’s general secretary seeking information on the party’s voter list—estimated to be over 100,000. Moonilal’s supporters include MP Tim Gopeesingh, who will contest the chairmanship on his slate; Gerry Yetming; ex-CNMG CEO Ken Ali; former Office of the Prime Minister aide Francis Joseph and Kevan Gibbs; certain sugar union officials; and certain other UNC members.
Maharaj claimed Moonilal also has support from people who were appointed by Moonilal to agencies under his former Housing Ministry. He said that included former Cepep chairman Adesh Deonarine, ex-HDC board members Rabindra Moonan, Henckle Lall, and others.
Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine, among those who have called for Persad-Bissessar to step aside, said he’d say whom he’s supporting after Divali. MP Ganga Singh said he had not personally taken any position. MP Fazal Karim had no comment on the issue recently.