I’m ready if they want me to lead the party to the 2014 general elections.
Those are the words of senior official of the Social Democratic Liberal Party Doctor Tupeni Baba when asked whether he wants to be the party leader for SODELPA.
Doctor Baba is the first to say this as we ask others who may show their interest in leading SODELPA.
In 1987 and 1999, Doctor Tupeni Baba contested the elections under the Fiji Labour Party banner and won.
In 2001, he formed the New Labour Unity Party which only won two seats.
He was not elected.
In the 2006 elections, Doctor Baba moved to the SDL party but could not return to parliament again.
It has taken SODELPA some time to identify a party leader who will head the party to the 2014 elections.
We have asked SODELPA’s General Secretary Pio Tabaiwalu on whether they are finding difficulties in identifying a leader.
He said the delay is due to the setting up of the party’s constituency councils around the country.
He said the councils will nominate two names each before the final selection takes place.
Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has already said that he will lead a new party to the next elections.
Mahendra Chaudhry remains the leader for the Fiji Labour Party.
National Federation Party President Raman Pratap Singh is the head of NFP.
People’s Democratic Party President Adi Sivia Qoro is the head of the PDP.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
I’m ready to lead SODELPA – Dr Baba
