Freedom Alliance Party Leader Jagath Karunaratne has told FBC News he’s not contesting this year’s election because of a few reasons.
He says politics to him isn’t standing for election neither is winning a seat in parliament but about utilizing the platform to unite the people.
Following months of meetings and discussion with other parties, Karunaratne and his party signed an agreement to partner and cooperate with Fiji Labour Party last week and contest the election under Labour’s banner.
However, Karunaratne’s name was not part of the FLP’s final 25 candidates approved last night by the Elections office to contest in the polls next month.
He says he had to make sacrifices this year to ensure the party he founded remains standing.
”Because I’m the leader of Freedom Alliance and the founder I have to ensure the party is intact and also the values of the party is intact. This is actually one of the sacrifices I made when we decided to have a cooperation arrangement with the Fiji Labour Party. Before that I was planning to contest but decided not to.”
He says if he had to contest the election than he would have resigned from his current leader role to be absorbed into the FLP, but he has chosen not to.
However, Karunaratne says he will continue to support the Fiji Labour Party heading into next month as they continue to work together as partners.
