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.

Virenda Lal
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for FijiFirst List
Assumed office
24 February 2023
Preceded byRosy Akbar
In office
8 December 2020 – 14 December 2022
Preceded byVijendra Prakash
Personal details
Political partyFijiFirst

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]

References

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  1. ^ "Security stepped up at Hindu temples in Fiji". RNZ. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  2. ^ Indra Singh (8 December 2020). "Lal, Waqanika approved as MPs". FBC News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  3. ^ Shalveen Chand (8 December 2020). "Prakash Resigns As Govt MP, Lal Steps Up". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  4. ^ Josefa Babitu (31 October 2022). "FijiFirst Announces 35 Proposed Candidates". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Lal replaces Akbar in Parliament". Fiji Times. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Fiji's main opposition FijiFirst sacks 17 MPs who voted for pay rise". RNZ. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  7. ^ "FijiFirst MPs terminated". FBC News. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Jone Salusalu (2 July 2024). "FijiFirst Party Deregistered, Opposition to Serve as Independent MPs". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2024.