Virenda Lal | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Fijian Parliament for FijiFirst List | |
| Assumed office 24 February 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Rosy Akbar |
| In office 8 December 2020 – 14 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Vijendra Prakash |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | FijiFirst |
Virenda Lal is a Fijian politician and member of the Parliament of Fiji. Elected as a member of the FijiFirst party, he became an independent following the party's collapse.
Before entering politics he was secretary of Hindu organisation Shree Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha.[1]
Lal entered parliament for the first time in December 2020, following the resignation of Vijendra Prakash.[2][3] He contested the 2022 Fijian general election as a FijiFirst candidate,[4] but did not win a seat.
He returned to parliament in February 2023 following the resignation of Rosy Akbar.[5]
On 31 May 2024 he was one of 17 FijiFirst MPs purportedly sacked by the party for voting to increase their salaries against a party directive.[6][7] The sacking was deemed invalid by the speaker,[8] and following the collapse and deregistration of the party he remained in parliament as an independent.[9]
- ^ "Security stepped up at Hindu temples in Fiji". RNZ. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Indra Singh (8 December 2020). "Lal, Waqanika approved as MPs". FBC News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ Shalveen Chand (8 December 2020). "Prakash Resigns As Govt MP, Lal Steps Up". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Josefa Babitu (31 October 2022). "FijiFirst Announces 35 Proposed Candidates". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Lal replaces Akbar in Parliament". Fiji Times. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Fiji's main opposition FijiFirst sacks 17 MPs who voted for pay rise". RNZ. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "FijiFirst MPs terminated". FBC News. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Vijay Narayan (14 June 2024). "Speaker decides 17 FijiFirst MPs keep their seats, and refers Bainimarama and Koya for alleged probable breaches". Fiji Village. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ Jone Salusalu (2 July 2024). "FijiFirst Party Deregistered, Opposition to Serve as Independent MPs". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2024.