By Richardson Dhalai Monday, October 29 2012

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COUNTING VOTES: Congress of the People political leader Prakash Ramadhar looks on while members of the party's election commission tally votes at the ...

San Fernando West MP, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan was yesterday elected as the new chairman of the Congress of the People at the party’s internal elections.

The voter turnout was low and according to preliminary results from 17 out of 20 polling stations Seepersad-Bachan was ahead with 797 votes, while incumbent chairman Joseph Toney garnered 433 votes and San Fernando attorney, Rekha Ramjit secured 125 votes.

The elections results were tallied at Plaza de Montrose, Main Road, Chaguanas.

In the race for vice chairman, preliminary results showed that former Government Senator, Nicole Dyer-Griffith was in the lead with 835 votes, with her nearest challenger, Vido Ramroop receiving 202 votes and Hugh Nurse garnering 155 votes.

Seepersad-Bachan, who arrived at the elections centre to the music of David Rudder’s “Ganges meets the Nile”, at approximately 8.30 pm was greeted with tremendous applause from the small crowd which had gathered at the elections centre.

She was warmly embraced by COP political leader Prakash Ramadhar and shared in a victory embrace with Dyer-Griffith. Noticeably absent were her two challengers, Toney and Ramjit.

According to a COP source, the voter turnout was less than ten percent of the 37,000 strong membership.

Earlier, Seepersad-Bachan, speaking with reporters shortly before casting her ballot at Grant Memorial Presbyterian school, said one of her first duties as chairman would be to woo back those who had become disillusioned with the COP over the last two years.