Liverpool councillor Charishma Kaliyanda angry at Andrew Charlton selection in leaked WhatsApp texts

A Labor candidate slammed her own party for selecting a white, rich businessman for a key western Sydney seat, leaked texts have revealed.  

Liverpool councillor Charishma Kaliyanda, who was born in India but migrated to Australia as a child with her family, sent messages in private Labor supporters groups on WhatsApp during last year’s May federal election attacking her own party over the selection of Andrew Charlton for the Parramatta seat.  

The councillor, who is hoping to be elected as the next MP for Liverpool at this month’s state election, claimed in the messages that Labor was not willing to select minority candidates for safe seats. 

She wrote: ‘It’s another gross variation of “white people are better placed to be the authority because the people of colour can’t be trusted to play nice between themselves”.

‘Also – how is it a sledge to call him what he is: a white, male millionaire.

‘The party is more than happy to have people of colour “take one for the team”. Just not when it involves held or safe seat?’ 

Liverpool councillor Charishma Kaliyanda sent messages in private Labor supporters groups on WhatsApp attacking her own party 

The councillor, who is also a candidate for Liverpool in this year’s NSW state election, claimed in the messages that Labor was not willing to select minority candidates for safe seats

Ms Kaliyanda also sent another message joking about Labor parachuting multi-millionaire Atlassian boss Mike Cannon-Brookes into a ‘safe western Sydney seat’.

‘Anyone have Mike Cannon-Brooks’ (sic) deets (details)? Maybe there’s a safe western Sydney seat head office can offer him?’ she wrote in the messages obtained by the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Charlton’s selection raised eyebrows at the time as he was living in a $16 million mansion in Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. 

It also sparked anger among local Labor activists in Parramatta – forcing Anthony Albanese to defend his choice. 

He said Mr Charlton had the party’s ‘unanimous’ support to run and he went on to win the seat.  

Mr Charlton’s selection raised eyebrows at the time as he was living in a $16 million mansion in Bellevue Hill in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

Liverpool, where Ms Kaliyanda is running, is one of the safest Labor seats in NSW, with the party holding the area at state level since its creation in 1950.

She is believed to have apologised to Mr Charlton in a phone call last week after her comments came to light.

‘I’m a passionate advocate for the interests of women of colour and other diverse members of the community,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.

‘Unfortunately, on this occasion my passion temporarily got the better of me in a private conversation with friends.

‘I have apologised to Andrew for the comments. Now that I’ve met him, I respect him, and think he’s doing a great job as a local MP.’

Daily Mail Australia reached out to Ms Kaliyanda for comment.