– he also gets Ethnic Affairs portfolio in National’s leadership change

All internal party turmoil aside, last week was particularly good for Kiwi-Indian and National’s List MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi based in Manukau East, Auckland.

While he was promoted as in-charge of his party’s ethnic affairs portfolio in National’s new leader Todd Muller’s reshuffle, Bakshi was also confirmed as National’s candidate for 2020 General Elections from Panmure-Ōtahuhu electorate. Under former leader Simon Bridges, Bakshi was National’s associate spokesperson for justice.

Notably, Bakshi, who has been in the Parliament since 2008, and is New Zealand Parliament’s first Indian Sikh member, has stood second to Minister for Ethnic Affairs, Labour’s Jenny Salesa in the last two elections, by a margin of over 12,000 votes. As reported in April, Manukau East electorate has now been renamed as Panmure-Otahuhu. – TIN Bureau