Prakash Ramadar is the new COP leader
CNewslive
Prakash Ramadhar is the new Political Leader of the Congress of the People.
Over 30,000 members voted in Sunday's election and reports coming from COP Headquarters say Mr Ramadhar won by a landslide.
Anil Roberts, one of his three opponents conceded defeat at around 5:30pm.
Mr Ramadhar spoke to C News shortly after his victory and promised to continue working for the people.
He said, "I have always seen leadership of the COP as nothing to celebrate as much as it is a burden that is a duty to our people. We have done that from 2006 onwards and today, now that I have been chosen as leader of the Congress of the People, it is an enormous responsibility that has been placed on our shoulders. To make sure we do everything in our power to live up to the expectations of our people. So I am happy for the opportunity and I am humbled by the occasion. Rest assured that we will continue to work, to build, to strengthen and to always make this country proud."
Earlier in the day, Mr Ramadhar along with contenders Nalini Dial, Vernon De Lima, and Anil Roberts all stained their fingers to vie for the top spot in the leadership race.
A month ago, Ms Dial did not exist in the political landscape. After weeks of going toe to toe with her male counterparts in an election that at times got very heated, she expressed happiness that the race was at an end.
She said, "I am happy it is over and the best person will win. I have confidence in the true COP members who will be voting for change and new politics. Whoever wins, we must continue to strengthen and build the party because I truly believe that it is only through the COP that citizens can get good governance."
Vernon De Lima reflected on the last six weeks saying at times, things got too heated with the political mudslinging but he admitted that it is part of the local political scene and he does not even remember every word that he threw or what was thrown at him.
Mr De Lima said, "When you are up on the platform and people are asking you questions as opposed to the other man, sometimes you say things that afterwards you regret."
The frontrunner and eventual winner in the COP race, Prakash Ramadar, said most of the jabs were for him but he has left that aside and will keep working as hard as he always had.
"I will continue. My heart is in this. I have dedicated my entire life to the country and will continue to work."
Mr Roberts expressed some level of disappointment over the traffic caused by the Red Bull Flugtag crowd which marooned voters in the west of MovieTowne.
Mr Roberts said, "The people in Carenage especially, because they have to come out. There is no polling station in Carenage so they have to come out of Diamond Vale and the numbers are very low. The people are having some problems in exercising their franchise."
Though the candidates all expressed confidence of their victory tonight, they said that come tomorrow, they are still COP members.
