Liverpool councillor Charishma Kaliyanda angry at Andrew Charlton selection in leaked WhatsApp texts
Read the fiery lyrics of an Indian-born Labor candidate about the millionaire white man who handed over a safe seat: “How’s it a sled?”
- PvdA councilor Charishma Kaliyanda denounces the party
- Criticized her party’s candidate selected in Paramatta
- Labor accused of not supporting minority candidates
A Labor candidate slammed her own party for choosing a wealthy white businessman for a key seat in western Sydney, leaked texts show.
Liverpool councilor Charishma Kaliyanda, who was born in India but emigrated to Australia with her family as a child, sent messages to private Labor support groups on WhatsApp during last May’s federal election attacking her own party over Andrew Charlton’s selection for the Parramatta seat.
The councillor, who hopes to be elected as the next MP for Liverpool in this month’s state election, claimed in the reports that Labor was unwilling to select minority candidates for safe seats.
She wrote, “It’s another gross variant of ‘white people are better placed to be the authority because the people of color can’t be trusted to play nice among themselves'”.
“Also — how sleight of hand to call him what he is: a white male millionaire.
The party is more than happy that people of color “take one for the team”. Only not when it comes to detained or safe seating?’
Liverpool councilor Charishma Kaliyanda sent messages in private Labor supporter groups on WhatsApp attacking her own party
The councillor, who is also running for Liverpool in this year’s NSW state election, claimed in the reports that Labor was unwilling to select minority candidates for safe seats.
Ms Kaliyanda also sent another message joking about Labor parachuting multimillionaire Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes into a ‘safe seat in western Sydney’.
“Does anyone have Mike Cannon-Brooks” (sic) deets (details)? Maybe there’s a safe haven in western Sydney that HQ can offer him?’ she wrote in the messages that the Daily telegram.
Mr Charlton’s selection raised eyebrows at the time as he lived in a $16 million mansion on Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
It also angered local Labor activists in Parramatta, forcing Anthony Albanese to defend his choice.
He said Mr Charlton had the ‘unanimous’ support of the party to run and won the seat.
Mr Charlton’s selection raised eyebrows at the time as he lived in a $16 million mansion in Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
Liverpool, where Ms Kaliyanda operates, is one of the safest Labor seats in NSW, with the party holding the area at the state level since its formation in 1950.
She is said to have apologized to Mr Charlton in a phone call last week after her comments came to light.
“I am a passionate advocate for the interests of women of color and other diverse members of the community,” she told the magazine. Daily telegram.
“Unfortunately, this time my passion temporarily got the better of me in a private conversation with friends.
“I apologize to Andrew for the comments. Now that I’ve met him, I respect him and think he’s doing a great job as a local MP.’
Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Kaliyanda for comment.