Dave Sharma becomes first Indian-origin candidate to win seat in Australian Parliament
Liberal candidate Dave Sharma has created history in Australia. He has become the first Indian-origin candidate to reach the Australian Parliament. In the federal election, he won the Sydney suburb of the Wentworthin seat.
43-year-old Sharma defeated Independent candidate Kerryn Phelps. He got 51.16 percent of the votes. Sharma had to face defeat by the Phelps in the byelection just six months earlier in this seat. After winning the election, Sharma wrote in a tweet, “Very humbled by the trust placed in me by the people of Wentworth. Look forward to being a voice for them in Parliament and the party room. “
Avoided the question of joining the cabinet
Sharma deferred questions in which it was asked if he would be included in the Cabinet of Prime Minister, Scott Morrison? He just said that his focus would be on becoming a good local public representative.
Australia’s ambassador to Israel
Sharma has been Australia’s Ambassador to Israel from 2013 to 2017. Sharma’s father is Indian and mother is Australian. His family has been living in Sydney from the eighties of the past century.
More than ten candidates of Indian origin were in the fray in the Australian election. The ruling Liberal Party had also fielded Vivek Singha, Sachin Joshi and Hemant Sharma, but they had to face defeat. The opposition Labor Party had made Aruna Chandralal and Parvinder Sarvara their candidate. While Raj Samson Rajwin, Prakul Chhabra, Jatinder Singh and Sahil Chawla contested the election from the United Australia party.
PM Morrison’s party ets gmajority
After the election in Australia on Saturday, the counting of votes has reached the final round. According to the Election Commission, the Conservative coalition of Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Scott Morrison is leading in 77 seats. In the 151-member parliament, 76 seats are needed for the majority.
