I LOST THE KANCHIBIYA SEAT BECAUSE I VOTED FOR BILL 7, SAYS SUNDAY CHANDA

Former Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Sunday Chanda has attributed his election loss to his vote in favour of the contested Bill 7 constitutional amendment, saying constituents turned against him over the decision and that the party subsequently withheld campaign support because he was seen to have defied local sentiment. Chanda said the practice within his […]

Former Kanchibiya Member of Parliament Sunday Chanda has attributed his election loss to his vote in favour of the contested Bill 7 constitutional amendment, saying constituents turned against him over the decision and that the party subsequently withheld campaign support because he was seen to have defied local sentiment.

Chanda said the practice within his party was for the leadership to consult stakeholders before major decisions, and that outcomes were meant to reflect those consultations. He said he was not deployed to campaign in Kanchibiya during the run-up to the election, a decision he linked directly to how his Bill 7 vote had been perceived among constituents and party structures.

The former legislator’s account offers a rare first-hand illustration of how constitutional reform debates, which dominated parliamentary business well before the election, continued to shape voter behaviour and party dynamics at constituency level. Bill 7 remained a politically divisive issue throughout its passage, with supporters and opponents divided along lines that did not always track neatly with party affiliation.

Chanda’s remarks suggest that his vote was interpreted locally as a break from the wishes of Kanchibiya residents, regardless of the broader political or constitutional justification he may have had for supporting the amendment at the time. He indicated that this perception hardened opposition to his candidacy well before the formal campaign period began.

He also pointed to the absence of campaign deployment as a compounding factor, describing it as a signal that the party itself had distanced itself from his position. Without that support, Chanda suggested, an already difficult path back to the seat became considerably harder to navigate.

The episode highlights a broader dynamic playing out across several constituencies this election cycle, where MPs who supported contentious legislation faced consequences at the ballot box regardless of their standing within party structures. Chanda’s case adds a personal dimension to that pattern, illustrating how quickly parliamentary votes on divisive national issues can translate into local political costs.

Chanda has not indicated whether he intends to remain active in politics or pursue any further role within his party following the loss. His comments, however, are likely to resonate with other legislators who supported Bill 7 and who may be assessing their own standing with constituents in its aftermath.