St. George’s, January 15, 2014 – One of the strategists in last year’s losing election bid of Grenada’s National Democratic Congress is reported to have resigned from the party as it prepares to choose a new leader in just over two weeks.

Caribupdate News Service, in a report from the Grenadian capital Wednesday, announced the resignation of William Joseph, who served as chief of staff to former Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.

The NDC, which lost 15-0 to the New National Party in general elections in 2013, will hold its annual convention next month.

Thomas’ deputy and former finance minister, Nazim Burke, is considered by many to be the frontrunner in the race to become the new NDC leader.

“Former Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has decided not to contest the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress in the February 2 convention,’’ Caribupdate said. “Thomas confirmed to colleagues and friends on the sidelines of a diplomatic function on Tuesday night that his name will not be put up for nomination’’.

According to the news service report, “a section of the party appears to be wary of a potential Burke leadership,’’ adding that Joseph “has resigned from the party, saying that Burke is unfit to lead’’.

In his resignation letter to the party, Joseph is said to have criticized Burke, describing him as intolerant of divergent views and as “a proponent of censorship and exclusion.”