Veena Kumar Bhatnagar is a

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

an politician who served as a member of the

Parliament of Fiji The Parliament of the Republic of Fiji is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Fiji. It consists of 55 members elected every 4 years using open list proportional representation in one multi-member nationwide constituency. History ...

from 2014 to 2022. She served as the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation. She is a member of the

FijiFirst FijiFirst ( fj, iMatai ni Viti) is a liberal political party in Fiji. The party was formed in March 2014 by then Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama. Formation The party was launched on 31 March 2014 with Bainimarama beginning a nationwide tour of ...

party. Bhatnagar is a former radio personality and program director for Radio Fiji Two. She was announced as a candidate for the FijiFirst Party on the 15th of August 2014 only a week after hosting a debate between a FijiFirst and an opposition party representative on her Aaina Radio show where her neutrality as host was called into question by some critics. She reappeared as a guest on a later episode of Aaina where she defended her performance as a host in the aforementioned debate and claimed she did not know that she was going to stand as candidate for Fiji First when she hosted the debate. In the 2014 election Bhatnagar received 874 votes, the 82nd highest total amongst all candidates and the 32nd highest number of among Fiji First Candidates. As her party performed well enough to be eligible for 32 seats, her 874 votes was sufficient to be elected into parliament. She ran for re-election in

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

, and placed 25th, garnering 577 votes. As her party managed to win 27 seats, she had won a seat in Parliament. In the first sitting of parliament after the election, she was nominated as Deputy Speaker by the ruling FijiFirst party, and managed to be appointed, with 27 votes cast for her with 24 cast for the Opposition Nominee, Adi

Litia Qionibaravi Adi Litia Qionibaravi is a Fijian chief and former member of the Parliament of Fiji. She is a member of the Social Democratic Liberal Party. Personal life Qionibaravi is from Ucunivanua in Verata, Tailevu Province. She trained as a lawyer, then w ...

. She served as Deputy Speaker from 2018 to 2022, occasionally presiding over sittings when Speaker Ratu

Epeli Nailatikau Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, (born 5 July 1941) (often referred to as ''Na Turaga Mai Naisogolaca'') is a Fijian chief who was President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015. He has had a long career in the Military, diplomatic service, and go ...

was absent. She served until the Parliament was dissolved and elections were called in October 2022. She ran for a 3rd term in the 2022 General Elections, under the FijiFirst banner once again. However, this time she garnered 527 votes and placed 31st in the party list, and was unable to qualify for a seat in Parliament, as her party had only been able to win 26 seats. FijiFirst, despite being the largest party in Parliament, was unable to negotiate a coalition deal with the

Social Democratic Liberal Party The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is a Fijian political party. The party was formed in January 2013 after the dissolution of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua. The party currently has no party leader. History Party foundation ...

, and lost re-election. She was succeeded as Deputy Speaker by NFP MP Lenora Qereqeretabua. She was succeeded as Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation by

Sashi Kiran Sashi Kiran is a Fijian politician, social entrepreneur and activist, who since December 2022 has served as the Assistant Minister of Woman, Children and Poverty Alleviation. She is a member of the National Federation Party. She is the founder a ...

. She returned to parliament in March 2023 following the resignation of

Ifereimi Waqainabete Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete is a Fijian politician and Member of the Parliament of Fiji who served as Minister for Health and Medical Services in the FijiFirst government from 2018 to 2022. Before entering politics Dr Waqainabete was a general sur ...

References

Indian members of the Parliament of Fiji FijiFirst politicians Government ministers of Fiji Fijian journalists 21st-century Fijian women politicians 21st-century Fijian politicians Women government ministers of Fiji Year of birth missing (living people) Living people {{Fiji-politician-stub