SODELPA’s gains in 2018 poll overshadowed by unresolved issues
There are those in the party who strongly felt that SODELPA botched the last election which they believed they should have won if the party had stuck with the original strategy.
SODELPA’s gains in the 2018 General Election look confusing if all the factors are taken in consideration in their proper perspectives.
While party leader Sitiveni Rabuka projected himself as a more popular leader than Ro Teimumu by polling 77,040 votes compared to her 49,485, it came at a cost.
Two of the party’s biggest constituencies, Tailevu and Naitasiri, each lost two sitting members of Parliament.
When Ro Teimumu became party leader she did not have enough timeto campaign but still managed to win 15 seats.
Since then SODELPA has had more time to campaign, more media exposure including the national live television.
There are those in the party who strongly felt that SODELPA botched the last election which they believed they should have won if the party had stuck with the original strategy.
But it was changed in the final weeks of the campaign to suit the agenda of some, they claimed.
It has been a prominent bone of contention in a raft of grievances by some disgruntled members who took SODELPA to court over governance issues and won.
The latest stoush in the party, which apparently has been brewing for sometime, but has now just surfaced, is between SODELPA in the United States and party HQ in Suva.
It has soured the gains of 2018. Thousands of dollars were sent from the US to SODELPA for the Purchase of vehicles and help in the campaign.
Queries have been sent about receipts and acquittals which have not been received by SODELPA USA despite reminders. Mr Rabuka confirmed yesterday that the grievances had been received and they would be looked into.
The new row means that 2018 is gone and forgotten.
The focus now is on 2022 and there are worries now in SODELPA USA that if their issues are not resolved they would negatively impact party support.
The focus now is on 2022 and there are worries now in SODELPA USA that if their issues are not resolved they would negatively impact party support.