UNC ‘bombshell’ candidate defeated

DOCTOR Anirudh Mahabir proved he was no “bombshell” candidate for the People’s National Movement’s Leslie Lynch, when he lost the Cocoyea/Torouba electoral districts by a much wider margin, compared to the UNC candidate’s narrow one-vote loss at the 1999 Local Government elections.

Lynch defeated eye specialist Mahabir, at yesterday’s Local Government Elections by approximately 343 votes. The much-touted “bombshell” candidate told Newsday last night, that he was disappointed, but found comfort in the fact that he never vied for higher political position in his party — the UNC. In the last Local Government elections in 1999, the then UNC candidate Rabindra Moonan, lost to Lynch by a mere one vote. Lynch had polled 1,425 and Moonan, 1424.  At exactly 8:30 pm, MP for Pointe-a-Pierre Gillian Lucky, conceded defeat on behalf of Mahabir. Mahabir later told Newsday: “Yes, I’m disappointed. A winner has been declared but I think I fought a good battle.” Asked  what role he intends to play in  politics, Mahabir vowed to continue to work in the UNC.

An elated Lynch told Newsday that Moonan (in the 1999 elections) more than Mahabir, was a “bombshell” candidate. “I had no fears about him (Mahabir). I think Moonan was a bombshell more than him,” Lynch said.  She obtained 1,578 votes, compared to Mahabir, who polled 1,235.