Panday and Bakr had been on the warpath after the last general election, when the United National Congress (UNC) leader accused the Jamaat leader of using his members to terrorise UNC voters in key marginal seats, thereby making the People’s National Movement (PNM) to win the election.

The two warriors were reportedly making common cause at Golden Grove, accusing the PNM of political victimisation and blaming the government for their being behind bars.

“The PNM divided them on the outside and the government brought them back together in jail,” one source noted.

“Panday and Bakr have been slamming the government over the past two days for the charges laid against them, with both men accusing the government of having a plan to keep them in jail.

Both leaders appear to have renewed their friendship in prison, it was revealed.

The source said prisons medical officer, Dr. Vinod Mahabir was summoned by prisons officials to carry out a medical examination of Panday shortly after he arrived at the Infirmary.

The informant stated that Panday was in shock and appeared to be depressed over his stiff sentence -- two years’ hard labour and $20,000 fine -- by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court on charges of failing to declare a London bank account. .

Panday, the source noted, was at a loss for words and his hands were shaking as he spoke to the doctor during his examination.

The source said the former United National Congress (UNC) Political Leader was more worried about current UNC Political Leader, Winston Dookeran, who he feared now had the best opportunity to “make his play” or become the next Opposition Leader.

“Now Winston has a chance,” he was heard saying in grim tones to an officer.

One prisons officer said Panday, is determined to carry on his political battles from either inside or outside of prison.

The UNC chairman said he would continue the struggle although he would not be involved in electoral politics.

One UNC official said that Panday has been giving instructions to the executive from his prison cell as how to deal with the crisis the party is now facing.

He asked for Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar to replace him as Opposition Leader.

When contacted Dr. Mahabir confirmed that he visited Panday at the Infirmary but declined to give further details.

However, Mirror later learnt that the jailed UNC leader was receiving his medication for his heart ailment, diabetes and high blood pressure, and was more relaxed and settled in his new surroundings ... and engaged in very friendly conversations with his old enemy, Yasin Abu Bakr.