Singh will join his colleagues Dookeran, Lucky, Dr. Fuad Khan, Manohar Ramsaran and Gerald Yetming on the backbench in Parliament on Friday.

But the Speaker has indicated he would be guided by the recommendation of Dookeran, who is the Political Leader in the appointment of a new Chief Whip.

Dookeran confirmed to TnT Mirror that he had been inundated with calls to recommend the outspoken and fiery Lucky.

Dookeran said he had called Lucky to discuss the matter but she had not responded up to Wednesday.

When Mirror spoke to Lucky, she confirmed that she had got a message on her answering machine from Dookeran, but is yet to return his call.

Lucky did not indicate whether she would accept the post saying: “You know where I stand about morality and integrity.”

“I would let you know after I meet with Dookeran,” she said.

Lucky and Dr. Khan had broken ranks with the UNC more than six months ago and took to the backbench in Parliament after a fallout with then Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday.

The two politicians declared themselves “Independent” UNC MPs.

Dookeran and Persad-Bissessar were expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the appointment of a Chief Whip.

While the Opposition Leader has been arguing that the constitution was being misinterpreted, since the appointment was made by the Political Leader in consultation with UNC’s MPs, Dookeran’s advisers are claiming the appointment of a Chief Whip is the sole prerogative of the Political Leader under the UNC’s Constitution.

Sources close to Dookeran say he may allow Dr. Rafeeq (who is deputy Chief Whip) to act in the post this Friday until he makes a decision on the issue this week coming.