Parramatta mayor Sameer Pandey has been ousted in a dispute with Labor
“Anything can happen in the next five and a half hours. If it goes off, it goes off. If not, then not,” he said.
During his mayoral minute, Pandey thanked the city councilors.
Parramatta councilor Cameron MacLean sprints to Monday’s council meeting.Credit: Wolter Peeters
“Since my election as Lord Mayor, I have been honored to serve as Lord Mayor of the City of Parramatta,” he said. “I am proud to have contributed to the ongoing transformation of our city.”
Asked before the vote if he felt betrayed, Pandey admitted he was disappointed.
“But I’m grateful for the support of my colleagues and the community.”
Pandey played a key role in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Parramatta and Harris Park earlier this year.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sameer Pandey and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.Credit: Sameer Pandey
“Of two prime ministers to mention [Albanese and Modi] on the same day was a very humbling experience,” he said.
Pandey was endorsed by Sanjay Deshwal, president of the Little India Harris Park Business Association, who spent the week highlighting his accomplishments as mayor.
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“This is a dark day for democracy,” Deshwal said of Pandey, the city’s first Indian mayor who is extremely popular with the local Indian community.
“There is a lot of hope and confidence that Sameer Pandey will become mayor here. Now he hasn’t even been in office three or four months and they want to fire him.”
A senior Labor member from Parramatta, who spoke on condition of anonymity to express his views freely, said the move would “destroy Labor in Parramatta”.
“It would be seen as a pointless act with no policy outcome that would be beneficial to the Labor Party.”
