FLP has lost credibility, says Datt

The Fiji Labour Party (FLP) has lost credibility with the Indian voters, says Former Fiji Labour Party stalwart and former Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations Krishna Datt.

Datt said this is due to a number of reasons and FLP is now wooing Fijian supporters by leaning on Qarase.

“This is the only way Labour can hope to survive and students of political science can have a field day following the maneuverings of the Labour leader in trying to place himself in a vantage position,” said Datt.

He said he has no problem working with FLP but has a problem working with party leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

Chaudhry on the other hand says this is not the first time Datt has staked his political future on such baseless claims and he obviously refuses to face the reality on the ground.

“Labour’s support among the grassroots is intact. But Datt is welcome to put this to the test,” said Chaudhry.

“The FLP is a democratic entity and its party leadership has always been elected. My position as secretary-general of the Party is an elected one. So is that of Party Leader, and it is based on the overwhelming mandate of the electorate,” he said.

He said there are more important issues of national significance to occupy the attention of the FLP, than the misguided ravings of a person who can’t quite decide whether he wants to form a new political party or not.

He also said what they are doing with the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) and the United Peoples Party is to try and unite the nation as it treads the path back to democracy and constitutional rule.

By Mereani Gonedua