Voice of the Mirror Panday’s last stand? It would be a very brave person, indeed, who would attempt to write off Basdeo Panday. The pollsters, of course, have already done so with one of them even going as far as elevating Parliamentary Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar way ahead of Panday in the Prime Ministerial stakes. This is even more reason why the public should take these polls with the proverbial pinch of salt. However, the wolves (mainly the political investors) are at Panday’s door, insisting that he step down and ride out into the Caroni sunset, the rationale being that he is standing in the way of opposition unity. And, therefore, the real possibility of an united Opposition grabbing the gleaming prize of Government from the People’s National Movement(PNM). It was Panday who described himself as damaged goods and called for a new leader in the United National Congress but now he is blasting his detractors for regarding him as a pariah. The other night, in Sangre Grande, he asked: “Where should I go? “Should I go in exile?” The most colourful politician in Trinidad and Tobago is certainly not going anywhere; definitely, not stepping down from the UNC Alliance leadership and he will have to be, literally, dragged kicking and screaming from the political arena that he has made his home since 1966. However, Panday, as has been his wont over the years, has been the author of his own troubles: he got it all wrong last year when he and the UNC executive subjected Winston Dookeran to relentless humiliation. Dookeran, clearly, had no other alternative but to leave the party and while, in politics, anything is possible, surely, too much water has flowed under the bridge for an alliance now with the Congress of the People (COP). What is laughable are the conditions he has set a head to head meeting with Dookeran the Press being the only other persons being allowed in the room to record the event. The crafty Panday, obviously, was not serious to all appearances, he was baiting Dookeran and thumbing his nose at the money men who want him out of the picture. The country -- and the cynical men who finance parties -- will know whether Panday is still politically attractive, only after the General Election this year.