Dookeran’s position seems precarious

Is Basdeo Panday trying to help UNC political leader Winston Dookeran or undermine him? The question seems a legitimate one, given the revelation that Mr Panday is now wooing Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

Mr Maharaj, when he served in the UNC as the MP for Couva South and, when the UNC came into office, as Attorney General, was perceived as the natural successor to Mr Panday. But, as the country well knows, the two men fell out during the UNC’s internal election, when Mr Panday supported political neophyte Carlos John for the post of deputy political leader.

Mr Panday probably wanted his party to broaden its cross-racial appeal, but it may be that, in a reaction typical of leaders in our society, he had also grown wary of a challenger. The issue of corruption, far from being the log that broke the bison’s back, was most likely loaded on the spine of this internal party conflict.

Since then, a significant section of the UNC support base has been calling for Mr Panday and Mr Maharaj to reconcile, and Mr Maharaj has always made it clear that he was not averse to such overtures. Then, questioned just two weeks ago on radio about whether he would welcome Mr Maharaj back into the UNC fold, Mr Panday said that this was a matter for the UNC members to decide — yet it does not seem that he had any consultation before offering Mr Maharaj the post of Opposition Senator.

It is certainly not likely that he consulted Mr Dookeran. After all, Mr Dookeran knows as well as anyone else that he would probably not be in his present position if Mr Panday and Mr Maharaj had not fallen out. He must also know that, if Mr Maharaj returns to the UNC, his days as political leader are numbered. If Mr Panday does not dethrone him, Mr Maharaj probably will. So it is not likely that Mr Dookeran would welcome back Mr Maharaj.

Indeed, just the fact that Mr Panday offered a Senate position to Mr Maharaj must emphasise to Mr Dookeran how precarious his position is. He holds his post through the stamp of approval of Mr Panday and because of a set of circumstances which have made the image of integrity a key factor in the UNC having any chance of winning the next general election. But Mr Dookeran cannot match Mr Panday in charisma, political cunning or, as the results of the party’s internal election showed, membership support.

On the other hand, Mr Panday seems to forget the circumstances that led him to elevate Mr Dookeran to the post of political leader. His machinations are strengthening the conviction amongst the general public that Mr Panday is not only still the true leader of the UNC, but has every intention of returning to active politics if and when Mr Dookeran helps lead the party to electoral victory.

Mr Panday is no doubt convinced that the UNC is best served by his continued presence. That may be true, but it may also be true that the party’s chances of winning a general election are diminished by the same factor. What seems to be building up here is a contest between the two men to demonstrate who is the true political leader. Mr Dookeran will have to take action soon or eventually be dismissed as a cypher with no real political clout.