The Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, has confirmed that the Proposed FijiansFirst Party submitted its application for registration as a political party today, marking the latest development in a shifting political landscape following the de-registration of an earlier party last year.
The application was lodged by Ravindran Kumaran, identified in the documents as a founding member and general secretary of the proposed party, together with party member Ketan Lal. Mataiciwa said preparations are underway to publish the application in a newspaper and in the Fiji Government Gazette as required under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013. Once those notices are published the statutory objections period will officially commence.
“During the objections period, any person may submit a written objection to the Registrar regarding the party’s application for registration,” Mataiciwa said, noting the Registrar will assess and determine all objections “within seven (7) days of receipt after giving the proposed party an opportunity to respond.” She added that both objectors and the applicant will be informed of the outcome once the assessment is completed.
The filing comes against a backdrop of recent regulatory enforcement and political realignment. The former FijiFirst party was de‑registered by the Registrar on July 1, 2024, for failing to amend its constitution to meet statutory requirements; appeals against that de‑registration were lodged in mid‑July. Ketan Lal, named on the new application, has in earlier statements described himself as an independent MP who is not aligned to any politician, a position he reiterated during media reports in July 2024.
Under the Act, publication in the Gazette and a newspaper is the trigger for public participation: anyone who believes the application does not meet legal requirements may lodge an objection. The Registrar’s seven‑day window to consider objections begins on receipt, but the process also guarantees the proposed party a chance to respond before a determination is reached. If the Registrar finds the application satisfies the Act’s conditions, the party will be registered; if not, the application will be refused and the decision communicated to the parties involved.
The proposed FijiansFirst Party adds to a broader trend of organisational activity ahead of the 2026 general election, with multiple new parties having entered the registration process in recent months. Mataiciwa reiterated the importance of transparency and public participation in the registration regime, saying the process is designed to ensure proposed parties meet legal requirements while allowing members of the public to raise lawful objections. The next formal milestone in this application will be the Gazette and newspaper publication, which will set the clock ticking on the objections period.
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