There is no disputing that the PPP is the most organized political party for the September 1 elections. Anyone who disagrees with that assessment is not being pragmatic and objective and has not actively been on the ground in analyzing the readiness of the various political parties for the elections. In engaging with activists of the two traditional parties to assess their preparation and readiness, PPP and PNC (APNU) and newcomer WIN, while all claim to be ready for polling day, the PPP is more ready and organized than others. This is due largely to the skillful leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo, the likeability of its Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali, and the desire of the supporters (and followers) that it must win again. Under Jagdeo, the PPP dominates Guyana and has become very powerful over the last four years building an organization that is not rivalled by any in the region, and most certainly in Guyana. Jagdeo eats, sleeps, dreams politics and how to win elections. The combination of Jagdeo and Irfaan give PPP an advantage.
It is recalled that the electoral success of the PPP in 2020 was due primarily to the political skill, experience, and expertise (adroitness) of Jagdeo, the challenges being posed by others ‘not withstanding’. He has been a consummate politician, a political animal who goes all out to win and destroy opponents, mocking and poking fun at them to the cheers of supporters. He has a populist and magnetic personality that draws supporters towards him. And with Irfaan who has used his Presidency over the last five years to become a populist that endear him to the public and voters, they have become a deadly combination in electoral politics, the likes of which have not been seen perhaps since 1953.
Jagdeo became a tough public speaker. He has been known for being pugnacious and disliked by opponents, but it serves to attract followers and cement his place in their hearts and minds of the party’s ardent supporters and even some cross overs. Like Jagdeo, Irfaan’s down to earth populist style also endears him nationally among people of all races and supporters of all parties, including those who may not vote for him. And that is what makes the duo a strong combination.
It is recalled that Jagdeo became leader at the right time when the party was in doldrums having been removed from office in 2015. After he became leader in 2016, he used his political experience as President for more than a dozen years and another as Finance Minister (Junior and Senior) for seven years, to transform the party and re-attract the base that had drifted away during the previous five years. He successfully courted Washington after a fallout between the PPP administration and the American Embassy in 2014; the relationship was rebuilt by Jagdeo. Further, he used his political contacts around the region to put pressure on the APNU led government to respect democratic traditions. And he successfully used the court (CCJ) to challenge the coalition on violations of the constitution. He engineered a no confidence vote that brought down the coalition. And he won the elections of March 2020 although it took five months to get the results certified after several court battles and the intervention of Washington to respect the will of the voters. It is noted that Jagdeo has drawn on his aspirational agenda to expand the party’s electoral footprint among non-Indians with much success. No other leader, not even Jagan, has done that since universal suffrage in 1953. The PPP under Jagdeo controls over three quarter’s NDCs and municipalities. For comparison’s sake, its archrival, the PNC or APNU, runs just a handful of NDCs and municipalities. It is not a fair comparison because the PNC did not contest elections nationwide in 2023, and its new leader Aubrey Norton has just started rebuilding the party after assuming leadership.
Jagdeo has been in campaign mode since the swearing in of Irfaan on August 2, 2020. It is almost non-stop campaigning, rallies, and engagements with voters. He and Irfaan took government to the people. The President has been on one outreach after another over the last five years. Both Irfaan and Jagdeo spoke regularly almost daily at various divisional meetings and worker appreciation events all over the country. Party MPs and activists have also been hitting the pavement continuously since 2021. However, the opposition is not be outdone as it has also been actively engaging supporters through a series of nationwide meetings. Still, it will not be easy for the challengers to take on the might of Jagdeo and Irfaan.
