The ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) is keeping a tight lid on exactly how it will select candidates for the upcoming general election which must be called by November this year.

What is sure is that there will be winners and losers in the selection stakes.

Redrawing the districts mean some keen competition for some constituencies since most legislators who plan to stay on in politics prefer to run on their home turf.

Among PLP incumbents in the Hamilton parish constituencies, for example, that means at least one person will have to find a new political base or withdraw from politics altogether.

There will be just three constituencies named for the parish which under the soon to be defunct dual seat system is solidly held by PLP MPs.

One of the new constituencies, Hamilton South which cuts into Smith's Parish, a traditionally United Bermuda Party (UBP) stronghold, is likely to be the last choice among the current incumbents Arthur Hodgson, Renee Webb, Derrick Burgess and Randolph Horton.

Observers say that as Cabinet Ministers, Mr. Horton and Ms Webb will probably get their preferred districts.

No matter what selection mechanism is decided upon, the party hierarchy will probably first seek an acceptable compromise with the incumbents.

Mr. Horton, who has strong family links in Somerset could be nominated to Southampton West (Constituency 32).

But it is also likely that he could fight the election in one of the other Somerset constituencies if Finance Minister Eugene Cox decides not to run.

Speculation is rife that Mr. Cox, who has been ill recently, will not contest the next election.

That leaves Ms Webb, Mr. Burgess and Mr. Hodgson vying for the parish's two most desirable districts Hamilton East and Hamilton West.

Both have been carved out of the old Hamilton East and Hamilton West and would be considered relatively safe bets for a PLP candidate.

Mr. Burgess and Mr. Hodgson both have family roots in Hamilton Parish South, but according to one insider Derrick Burgess is the most popular representative in Hamilton Parish, particularly in Hamilton East. Mr. Hodgson as the incumbent in Hamilton West, could be the favourite for the new Hamilton West. So the dogfight could end up being between Ms Webb and Mr. Burgess for Hamilton East.

As expected party leaders were not in any kind of mood to help with any election speculation when contacted this week.

"The branches are going to be looking at people... It will go into the candidates committee and there will be a lot of back and forth discussion," was all party chairman Neville Tyrell would say. "Everybody's going to be put to the test."

The PLP has already changed its constitution to allow for as many branches as there are constituencies in preparation for the move to single seat electoral districts.

Electoral reforms dumping the dual seat system in favour of 36 single seats were signed into law last month and become effective at the next dissolution of Parliament.

But there are so far no indications of the ruling party setting up 36 branch organisations in order to select their candidates, and Mr. Tyrell has already hinted that the party will look at another selection mechanism.

Each of the current nine parish based branches will likely be responsible for nominating four candidates.

That's speculation, though, and all will be revealed once the Premier names the date for the elections.