By Shaun Keenan
TRIBUTES have been paid to former DUP and Alliance Party councillor Vasundhara Kamble who died suddenly.
Kamble, who came to Northern Ireland from India, in 1995, had been an Alliance councillor for six years.
The former councillor served on the former Castlereagh Borough Council before it became Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council in 2016 and represented the Castlereagh South district electoral area.
Current Lisburn and Castlereagh councillor, Alan Givan, said he was “shocked and saddened” to learn of the passing of Kamble.
“I often enjoyed her company and she was fun to be with,” the DUP councillor said.
“Vasundhara loved talking about her family and especially her first granddaughter. I have fond memories of her introducing me to the Intercultural Friendship Group in Carryduff and sampling the beautiful cuisine.
“I extend my deepest sympathy and prayers to Vasundhara’s family and friend.”
Alliance councillor for Lisburn North, Stephen Martin said he was “sorry to hear of the sad passing” of Kamble.
He said: “I first met Vasundhara at a public event in Omagh off the back of which she ran in Fermanagh S. Tyrone 2010 election. Co-option to [Castlereagh Borough Council] & election to [Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council] followed. Deepest sympathy to her family.”
Sinn Fein councillor Ryan Carlin said she would be “missed by many” in the Carryduff and wider Castlereagh area.
“Thoughts with Vashundhara’s family at this sad time, ” said Cllr Carlin.
“She worked hard to serve her local community in Carryduff and will be missed by many. Incredibly sad news for many colleagues in [Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council] who had worked with her both as an Alliance and DUP councillor.”
Lagan Valley MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he was sad to learn that Vasundhara Kamble had died.
He said: “Vasundhara was a much-valued member of the Council and of our DUP Group and our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.”
The former councillor had been the Alliance Party’s only elected representative from a minority ethnic background before resigning in January 2017.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph at the time of her resignation, she accused the party of “snobbery” and said it was “a tight clique of elitist individuals”.
She stood briefly as an Independent councillor for a period before joining the DUP nine months after quitting the Alliance Party.
(Local Democracy Reporting Service)
