CLP Fong Lim candidate Tanzil Rahman made failed bid for Labor preselection

The CLP’s star candidate picked for the battleground seat of Fong Lim made an unsuccessful bid for Labor preselection just weeks before swapping party allegiances.

CLP candidate for Fong Lim Dr Tanzil Rahman was a member of the Labor Party until January 26.

The Country Liberal Party’s star candidate picked for the battleground seat of Fong Lim made a failed bid for Territory Labor preselection just weeks before swapping party allegiances.

Dr Tanzil Rahman, an Oxford University scholar and economic geographer employed in the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet, was announced as a CLP candidate for the August election earlier this month.

The NT News can reveal Dr Rahman was a member of the Labor Party from August until January 26, when he wrote a letter tendering his immediate resignation.

Dr Tanzil Rahman with CLP leader Lia Finocchiaro.

His resignation came two weeks after he approached the party about preselection for Wanguri, following former Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison announcement she would not recontest her longhead seat.

The party did not respond, Dr Rahman never progressed a formal application, and retail union boss Shlok Sharma was ultimately chosen as Labor’s Wanguri hopeful.

CLP president Shane Stone said Dr Rahman had fully disclosed his former Labor membership and described it as “a non-issue”.

CLP president Shane Stone.

“It’s all just a bit of past history,” Mr Stone said.

“Tanzil decided who can best deliver for the Territory – he went through it all with me, why he felt Labor wasn’t up to delivering, and why he thought a reinvigorated CLP team could.”

Mr Stone said he was encouraging a new approach within the party to “cast the net wide” for its candidates, speaking with Labor, former Territory Alliance, and disaffected CLP voters to try garner support.

“They don’t need to be members of the CLP – you want who’s best for the Territory.”

Dr Rahman beat out seven other candidates gunning for Fong Lim, an area that has historically been Labor leaning but which the CLP hopes it could cinch come August.

Incumbent MLA, Education Minister Mark Monaghan, won with a 52.6 per cent two-party-preferred margin in 2020.

At times controversial Darwin Councillor and “Laksa Queen” Amye Un on Monday also announced she would be recontesting the seat, with a platform at least partially based on knowing her seasonings.

Ms Un picked up 10.4 per cent of the vote at the last election.

Fong Lim covers a suburban corridor south of the Stuart Hwy in Darwin, spanning from Stuart Park to Berrimah.

The division will absorb some of Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro’s seat of Spillett, following electoral boundary redistributions coming into effect at the election.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the preselection of CLP candidates was “a matter for them”.

Dr Rahman did not respond to requests for comment.