A POLITICIAN has said the reason he was not a candidate in last week's local elections was because he was deselected by the Conservative party.
Surrinder Banwait, previously a Reigate and Banstead borough councillor for the Horley Central ward, was replaced following a vote by the membership of the Horley Conservative branch.
Mr Banwait said he was surprised and baffled by the decision. He added: "There were people who were upset because they said, 'Why are you deselecting the standing councillor?'
"I have been living in Horley for the last 21 years. I have been in the country for the last 40 years. Everybody knew me. Most of the Asian community knew me and they are proud of me, they say at least we have got somebody to talk to in the borough."
Andrew Lynch, borough councillor for Horley Central and chairman of the Horley branch of the East Surrey Conservative Association, said: "The process in the party is the same for borough councillors and county councillors, you're voted in by members.
"At the Annual General Meeting everybody stands up and has a five-minute speech about themselves, about why they should be a councillor, and then the membership vote on who they want to represent them.
"For every Conservative association that is the process, Reigate do it and Tandridge do it."
Rukshana Horwood, who was voted to replace Mr Banwait, lost to Ukip's Christian Stevens by 43 votes.
