After entering the Senate in 1970, Harish Sharma made significant strides in his political career. In his memoir, “Road to Parliament: A Glimpse into the Life of Hon. Harish C. Sharma,” the former leader of the National Federation Party (NFP) recounts his endorsement to contest the 1972 General Elections for the Sigatoka Indian Communal constituency just before his Senate term was about to end.
Sharma reflects on the 1972 elections, the first held under the new 1970 Constitution, during which the NFP secured 19 seats out of 52—12 communal and seven through cross-voting. This victory led him to join the newly formed House of Representatives.
However, the NFP experienced internal conflicts that eventually led to a split into two factions. Sharma noted that the party was in turmoil prior to the April 1977 elections. Under these challenging circumstances, the NFP surprisingly won 26 seats, defeating the Alliance Party, which secured 24 seats. The split in the Fijian communal vote, as Nationalist Sakeasi Butadroka and Independent Ratu Osea Gavidi took advantage of the Alliance’s division, played a crucial role in this outcome.
Despite its unexpected success, the NFP was unprepared to form a stable government due to insufficient seats and internal problems, leading to the dissolution of Parliament on June 1. In September of the same year, the outgoing Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara established a new Cabinet.
Sharma noted the pervasive issues under Ratu Mara’s leadership, which included mismanagement, corruption, and increasing wealth disparity. The government was viewed as disconnected from the people’s struggles, leading to widespread discontent. The situation worsened with a wage freeze imposed by the Mara Government, ultimately catalyzing the formation of the Fiji Labour Party in 1985.
Despite tensions between the FLP and NFP, a strategic alliance was proposed to challenge Ratu Mara’s government. By April 1987, Ratu Mara conceded to a coalition government led by Dr. Timoci Bavadra. This coalition won a significant victory in the general elections, securing 28 seats against the Alliance Party’s 24. Sharma was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and held the ministerial portfolios for Housing and Urban Affairs as well as Information.
However, on May 14, 1987, the political landscape shifted drastically when Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka announced a military takeover in Parliament. Sharma and other government members were forcibly removed at gunpoint, realizing only later that this had been a premeditated coup.
After spending six days detained, they were released, and during their captivity, religious unity provided them solace. Meanwhile, Fiji’s economy was faltering, with cane farmers refusing to harvest for months. The 1970 Constitution was abrogated following the rejection of the Deuba Accord, leading to a second coup on September 25, 1987, which was notably more violent and targeted specifically at the Indo-Fijian community.
While Sharma was in Australia during the second coup, he returned to Fiji, where he was arrested. After a brief period in detention, he was released and sought refuge from the Indian High Commissioner. Although he had relocated his family to Australia, Sharma chose to remain in Fiji and contest the 1992 elections, narrowly losing by four votes.
Following the Rabuka Government’s budgetary crisis within 18 months, he advised the President to dissolve Parliament and call for new elections. Sharma succeeded in the 1994 elections, regaining his position in Parliament.
He stepped down from Parliament in 1998 as deputy leader of the opposition but emphasized that his political involvement would continue throughout his life, expressing his commitment to remain an active member of the NFP.