Indian-Australian to contest polls for NSW seat
March 12th, 2011 - 1:47 pm ICT by ANISydney, Mar. 12 (ANI): An Independent Indian community candidate has announced he will run against former New South Wales premier Nathan Rees in Toongabbie.
Ashok Kumar, 56, the owner and editor of The Indian Sub-continent Times, announced his candidacy earlier this week,a day before the close of nominations.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Kumar is being supported by an influential community member and cardiologist, Yadu Singh, who is also the president of the powerful Council of Indian Australians.
Rees and the Liberal candidate, Kirsty Lloyd, have been courting Toongabbie’s large south Asian population, which accounts for almost 15 per cent of the vote.
But a pre-selection battle last year between Rees and another Indian-Australian, Susai Benjamin, led to a loss of support among some in the community, including Dr. Singh and Kumar, after Rees was installed by Labor as its candidate without a rank and file ballot.
Dr. Singh told the Herald that he is not a member of a political party, said he was one of a number of people who encouraged Kumar to run.
Kumar told the Herald he had yet to decide whether he would direct his preferences to Lloyd or not preference any candidate, but he ruled out preferencing Rees.
He said he would make his decision at the weekend after discussions with his colleagues. (ANI)
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Tags: ashok kumar, asian population, australians, candidacy, colleagues, community member, dr singh, indian sub continent, liberal candidate, lloyd, morning herald, new south wales, new south wales premier, pre selection, preference, rank and file, rees, susai, sydney morning herald, yadu