NFP candidate responds to Damodar name use statement

National Federation Party party candidate Riddhi Damodar says she uses the name Damodar because that is the name on her Fijian Passport. She was responding to a statement by Damodar Group chief executive Div Damodar. Mr Damodar said on Friday that the Damodar family of Damodar Group of Companies were not in any way associated with her.

Mr Damodar said to avoid misunderstandings, Riddhi had been requested not to use the Damodar name. But she continued to do so. Mr Damodar and Riddhi Damodar divorced on February 6, 2016 and since then she had been living on her own and ran her own business.

In her statement, Riddhi said she is a Fijian Citizen and the only reason she did not change her name was because her daughter Dimani had the Damodar surname on her passport.

“I have legal custody of my daughter and travelling with her under a different surname was a problem.

“This was also done with the consent of my in-laws keeping my then one-year-old daughter in mind. I would also like to make it clear that on Friday, when my name was announced; neither the party nor I made any reference to my association with Mr Damodar, the Damodar Family and Damodar Group of Companies.

“I was announced a strong independent woman who wants to fight for women and youth right and development. There is no patent for the name ‘Damodar’”.