FORMER Barataria/ San Juan MP Dr Fuad Khan can defeat incumbent UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the party's internal elections on June 26, once those elections are free and fair.

These were the views expressed on Monday by former St Augustine MP Vasant Bharath, former Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial and political analyst Shane Mohammed.

Bharath, who unsuccessfully challenged Persad-Bissessar for the UNC's leadership in the party's internal elections on December 6, 2020, believed Khan has a chance of defeating her if the playing field was level.

But he said, "The odds are heavily stacked in Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s favour, because she not only controls the process but also manipulates it."

Bharath claimed only Persad-Bissessar appoints the members of the elections committee; determines the names of UNC members on the voters' list; when the list is released to competitors, void of any relevant details; has people in voting stations to direct UNC members to vote for her and her slate; and uses party resources to campaign for the internal elections

He cited the UNC's weekly Monday night forum as a platform used by Persad-Bissessar and her slate to campaign for the internal elections "when others are not afforded the same opportunity."

Bharath believed having different people as UNC political leader and opposition leader could be the best option to rebuild the UNC into a strong political vehicle.

"The reality is that the party has no functioning institutions, eg no party groups, no constituency executives, no functioning youth and women’s arms, etc." Bharath said an autocracy has been created in the UNC, as all of its major organs have been allowed to fade into oblivion "so that the leader has complete control."

The UNC continues to remain nationally unattractive while Persad-Bissessar and her loyalists remain at its helm, Bharath said.

"I am aware that many people of capacity and credibility have offered to assist but have been rejected because of Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s own insecurities."

The UNC, he continued, has become a cult which praises Persad-Bissessar every time it speaks. "The party is perceived as ‘Hindu,’ with a few token outsiders for window-dressing, and with no real decision-making power."

The shifting of the UNC's headquarters from Couva to San Fernando has also contributed to its diminished image as a national party.

Bharath does not believe that Persad-Bissessar is a racist. But he said she is "just intellectually incapable of understanding the repercussions and consequences of what she says."

Bharath reiterated, "She is simply unfit for office and is the PNM’s greatest asset."

Ramdial, who is contesting the post of elections officer on June 26, said, "If the election process is free and fair, he (Khan) will win."

She claimed there were several discrepancies in the 2020 internal elections which were not addressed.

"This time I intend to write said committee with our requests and recommendations for a fair process."

Ramdial said only Khan has the capabi