Construction boss Zane DeSilva is being hotly tipped to run for the Progressive Labour Party in the highly-winnable Southampton East Central seat — ousting branch choice Raymond Tannock who lost by 20 votes last time to the UBP’s David Dodwell.

The Royal Gazette also understands that the PLP hierarchy have overruled local parties in a number of areas including St. David’s where Lovitta Foggo has thought to have replaced Sean Tucker as the choice for St. David’s — another UBP seat high held by a tiny majority at the last election.

One party source blasted the way the party rule book had been torn up to fit in favourites — often justified by phone polls which no-one outside the party elite ever saw.

It’s feared it could rebound on the door step while it also seems to fly in the face of claims by Premier Ewart Brown that the new three-part selection process was “bottom-up” rather than “top down”.

An angry PLP member told The Royal Gazette: “The process was supposed to be so scientific and transparent but it hasn’t been that.

“Raymond Tannock got nine out of ten of the branch votes in his seat but Tannock is told very sorry but we are taking Zane DeSilva.

“But Tannock only lost by 20 votes in the last election in a very short campaign but he is losing out to someone who just joined the party.” The party has yet to officially announce any of its candidates for an election widely expected in July.

With party bosses keen to keep a lid on the process until the official roll-out in the next few days the rumour mill about potential candidates has reached overdrive.

It’s understood El James is the choice for Warwick North Central — knocking out sitting MP George Scott as the Progressive Labour Party’s candidate choice.

With incumbent Randy Horton likely to remain in Southampton West, despite that branch overwhelmingly picking newcomer Marc Bean, its thought Mr. Bean will be moving to the neighbouring seat of Southampton West Central to take on the UBP’s Jon Brunson who won by more than 100 votes last time.

And it is thought that Jane Correia, who along with Mr. DeSilva is another new white candidate touted by the PLP, will either fight Devonshire South Central — a United Bermuda Party stronghold currently held by John Barritt or Smith’s South, held at a canter by Cole Simons in the 2003 election.

Attorney General Phil Perinchief is still hotly tipped to fight St. George’s South — despite the branch picking Rev. Leroy Bean (CORRECT).

The Premier’s Chief of Staff Wayne Caines has been linked with Hamilton South — a UBP seat being vacated by Maxwell Burgess at the coming election.

Consultant to the Premier Rolfe Commissiong is being linked with one of the no-hope Paget seats while Walton Brown could make a run for the PLP in Pembroke West, currently held by independent Jamahl Simmons who is retiring.

Meanwhile for the United Bermuda Party Albertha Waite, who campaigned against the plan to cram houses into the Mary Victoria Road and Alexandra Road estates in Prospect, is being tipped to take on the PLP’s Glenn Blakeney.