In a vibrant and spirited display of political fervour, Indian tadka and anticipation, Navtej Randhawa, National’s candidate from Panmure-Otahuhu electorate for 2023 general elections, launched his campaign in Auckland.
At least 200 people turned up for the dynamic event in Papatoetoe on July 6, 2023. Among the dignitataries were parliamentarian Judith Collins, ex-MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, New Zealand Central Sikh Association Chairman Prithi Pal Singh Basra, President of the Organising Committee of Sikh Games Daljeet Singh Sidhu, New Zealand Indian Central Association President Narendra Bhana, Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand Spokesperson Daljit Singh, and Fiji Girmit Foundation NZ President Krish Naidu.
Other Kiwi-Indian candidates for the National Party, Mahesh Muralidhar from Auckland CBD and Siva Kilari from Manurewa, were in attendance to rally support for Randhawa.
Community leader, owner of Big Mart in Papatoetoe and founding member of Radio Spice, Randhawa says he identifies strongly with his Indian roots.
The fourth-generation Kiwi-Indian is picking up the baton from Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, who has been the face of the National Party from this electorate that was carved out from the erstwhile Manukau East constituency in 2019.
Labour has never lost the candidate vote from the area since 1996, which was also the last time National won the party vote here. Randhawa is up against Labour’s Jenny Salesa for the October 14 elections.
At his campaign launch, he made a dramatic entry to the beat of dhols surrounded by his supporters, the event reaching a crescendo with a bhangra performance.
With a confident demeanour, he delivered a compelling speech that resonated deeply with those in attendance. His speech showcased his dedication to evidence-based decision-making and collaborative problem-solving.
Talking to The Indian Weekender, the 46-year-old talked about his vision for a brighter future and the National Party's commitment to progress.
“I am overwhelmed with the remarkable turnout of supporters, party loyalists, and electorates. It confirms that people want change, and National is ready to keep the economy on track.
“I want to reaffirm that I am here to serve my electorate and will do my best to deliver for Panmure-Otahuhu. Today, we stand at a crossroads. I am committed to a brighter future for New Zealand. My family values are national party values.”
He urged every New Zealander to enrol themselves to vote by visiting https://vote.nz/ as not many are aware that one is eligible to enrol and vote if they are 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in their life.
Randhawa brought attention to recent news reports about Kiwis leaving the country to settle abroad. “It breaks my heart to see people leaving New Zealand as they don't feel safe and feel the opportunities are better across the ditch.
We need to ensure that New Zealand becomes a country everyone dreams of being a part of. This campaign is not just about me, it's about all of us coming together to create a brighter future. I am not afraid to challenge convention and work towards real solutions,” said the father of three.
With his impressive background, commitment to inclusivity, and dedication to tackling the nation's challenges, Randhawa has positioned himself as a candidate to watch.
Anticipation is building over whether he can successfully translate his dynamic campaign launch into electoral success.