FORMER Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday wants to have United National Congress (UNC) Political Leader Winston Dookeran as a “puppet.”

This is the inference drawn by sources in the Dookeran camp from what was described as an “essentially provocative and nasty” letter sent by Panday to Dookeran earlier this week.

Following a meeting between Panday and Dookeran last week to discuss uniting the two warring factions in the party, Panday said he intended to write a letter to Dookeran and Dookeran’s response would determine whether it was possible to heal the rift in the UNC, which is on the brink of self-destruction.

Panday, former chairman of the UNC, said he was writing the letter to get definite answers from Dookeran because no agreement had been reached between the two leaders when they met.

In his letter, a Dookeran source said, Panday described Dookeran as dictator, who wants to control the executive and impose his views on the party.

Panday also accused him of wanting to hold on to the post of both Political Leader and Opposition Leader.

The source said Panday is insisting on a leadership council, from which the membership will determine who would be the Prime Minister if the UNC wins the next election.

“Panday just wants to have Dookeran as a puppet and use him, because he feels that (Dookeran) has huge support,” the source said.

Another source said that replying to Panday’s letter would be an exercise in futility since Panday appears to be playing games with Dookeran until the National Congress meets on Saturday, when it is expected a vote of “no confidence” will be passed to remove Dookeran.

“Panday will say he tried unsuccessfully to unite the party and the executive can take whatever decision they now want,” the source noted.

The source added that Panday’s sycophants and blind supporters would blame Dookeran for failure of the unity talks.

In responding to a May 23, 2006 letter from the executive, Dookeran said “I have no choice but to conclude that the letter is intended to undermine the legitimacy of my leadership of the UNC.

“Many important decisions that affect the functioning of the UNC are now being made by a small group of persons without proper regard for the provisions of the Constitution,” Dookeran said.

The UNC Political Leader also expressed concerns about the performance of the National Executive, disciplinary action, dignity and respect for the Political Leader, and the role of the Political Leader.

Regarding the role of the Political Leader, Dookeran said: “When I accepted the position of Political Leader, I immediately took several initiatives to restore the political credibility of the UNC, among which were the holding of national seminars and the insistence on conducting free and fair elections within the party.

“These initiatives have never found favour with members of the Executive and subsequently the Executive began to ‘usurp’ the prerogative usually accorded to a Political Leader.

“A case in point is the recent appointment of the Leader of the Opposition (Kamla Persad-Bissessar),” he said.