Candidate Alleges Withdrawal Request Over Visa Status
A member of the Scottish Green Party has claimed she was asked to withdraw as a candidate due to her student visa status, despite another candidate in a similar situation being permitted to stand.
Sai Shraddha Suresh Viswanathan stated she felt "let down" by the party after officials expressed concerns that she might not be able to serve a full term without obtaining a new visa.
In contrast, another candidate, Q Manivannan, who was also in the UK on a student visa, was allowed to run and was successfully elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) representing the Edinburgh and Lothians East region.
The Scottish Greens have responded by stating that no candidates were prevented from standing due to their visa status.
Background on Viswanathan's Candidacy
Viswanathan, originally from India and currently serving as the president of the National Union of Students (NUS) in Scotland, sought to be a candidate for the Scottish Green Party in the North East of Scotland for the Holyrood election.
She participated in the party's internal elections last year and was ranked third on the party's list. However, she said that during a phone call with a party official in July 2023, she was asked to withdraw as a candidate.
Viswanathan told BBC Scotland News that she was informed the party had received legal advice suggesting she would not be able to take up a position as an MSP because she could not guarantee her right to remain in Scotland throughout the term.
Despite this, Manivannan was reportedly told they could run as a candidate under similar visa circumstances.
Impact and Response
Viswanathan expressed mixed feelings regarding the election results. While she was "thrilled" that many fellow Greens had been elected, the experience of having to withdraw had taken "a significant toll on [her] health and well-being."
"I have been let down by the internal selection process of the Scottish Greens Party.
Ultimately, there has been a discrepancy in how different candidates have been advised by the party.
Immigration is a sensitive subject for many migrants like myself who should be allowed to take part in the election process, as the latest election results have shown us."
The Scottish Greens secured one MSP seat in the North East region, meaning Viswanathan would not have been elected under the party list system.
This situation adds to existing internal controversies within the party in the North East of Scotland, where there has been infighting related to candidate selections.
Legal Context and Party Position
Changes to legislation in 2024 now allow individuals without permanent residency rights in the UK to stand in Scottish Parliament elections.
However, if a candidate loses the right to remain in the UK during their term, they would be disqualified from continuing as an MSP.
The Scottish Greens have committed to supporting the newly elected Manivannan as they pursue a graduate visa to secure their stay in Scotland.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Green Party told BBC Scotland News:
"Candidates are responsible for ensuring they meet all legal and eligibility requirements before standing for election, including any matters relating to their own visa status.
We cannot comment on individual candidates or internal selection processes, but we can confirm that nobody has been blocked from standing for the Scottish Greens because of their visa status.
Overall, the party is satisfied that it has acted appropriately and provided relevant guidance to all candidates, where required.
The Scottish Greens are proud to see our biggest ever cohort of MSPs elected, who represent a diverse range of communities including New Scots, and we look forward to getting to work delivering the progressive platform on which they were elected."
In total, the Scottish Greens had 15 MSPs elected to Holyrood in this election.
