Liberal MP Dave Sharma takes extreme step after losing his seat by deleting his Twitter account

Liberal MP Dave Sharma has decided to delete his Twitter account after losing his seat of Wentworth as his triumphant opponent reveals she hasn’t heard from him. 

Mr Sharma, 46, lost his seat of Wentworth, in Sydney’s wealthy eastern suburbs,  to ‘teal’ Independent Allegra Spender.

The outgoing MP has responded to the loss by deleting his Twitter account which now hosts the message: ‘Something went wrong. Try again’. 

Mr Sharma still has an Instagram and Facebook account which still describe the politician as the MP for Wentworth, as of Sunday evening. 

Mr Sharma still has an Instagram and Facebook account which still describe the politician as the MP for Wentworth, as of Sunday evening 

Speaking earlier on Sunday from Bondi, part of the Wentworth electorate, Ms Spender revealed she was yet to hear from her predecessor. 

‘I don’t know if I missed the call but I haven’t heard from him,’ she said. 

Mr Sharma is yet to concede defeat, with his most recent social media posts dated back to 4pm on Saturday when he thanked voters for their support. 

‘A big thank you to my hundreds of volunteers who are all across Wentworth today! Vote for a strong economy and a stronger future,’ he wrote. 

Mr Sharma reclaimed the electorate – which covers wealthy suburbs like Vaucluse, Point Piper and Watsons Bay – in 2019 after he won the seat from independent Dr Kerryn Phelps by just 2,346 votes. 

Latest counting for Wentworth shows Mr Sharma topped the poll on first-preference votes, getting 38.6 per cent to Ms Spender’s 37.8 per cent but she was vaulted ahead on preferences from the Labor and Greens candidates and on a two-candidate preferred basis she was ahead 56.1 per cent to 43.9 per cent, putting the ultimate result beyond doubt. 

Late on Saturday night, he told supporters it had been a ‘tough day at the office’. 

‘It’s a real privilege to put yourself forward as a candidate,’ the politician said. 

Speaking earlier on Sunday from Bondi, part of the Wentworth electorate, Ms Spender (pictured on Saturday) revealed she was yet to hear from her predecessor

Mr Sharma (pictured in April) is yet to concede defeat, with his most recent social media posts dated back to 4pm on Saturday when he thanked voters for their support

‘We together have achieved a lot in Wentworth these past four years. We’ve supported our local community and the nation.’ 

Mr Sharma also noted other Liberal leaders looked to lose their seats. 

‘It’s clear that several, indeed a large number of my colleagues are doing it tough right now,’ he said. 

‘And if we cannot keep them tonight we have to make sure there is a space for their views in the party. We as a party will have many lessons to learn from this evening.’

The MP was one of six Liberals’ who lost their seat to teal independents across Sydney; Zoe Daniel in Goldstein, Kylea Tink in North Sydney, Sophie Scamps in Mackellar and Kate Chaney in Curtin. 

Three independents were also able to retain their seats; Zali Steggall in Warringah, Andrew Wilkie in Clark and Helen Haines in Indi, who retained their seats.

Mr Sharma held Wentworth by on margin of 1.3 per cent but faced a strong grassroots campaign by Ms Spender, a well-known local business leader and renewable energy advocate.

At 11.30pm on Saturday Ms Spender (pictured speaking to voters in Bondi on Saturday) held just under 56 per cent of the two party vote, ultimately going on to win the seat

At 11.30pm on Saturday Ms Spender held just under 56 per cent of the two party vote.

However, while describing the evening as a win for the community she did not formally declare victory, saying there was still polling and pre-polling to count. 

‘While the numbers are looking really good nothing is certain,’ she told supporters at the Bondi Bowling Club.

‘Thankyou all for coming tonight and being on this journey … it has been absolutely incredible’, she said to cheers from the crowd.

‘It started just over two months ago and it’s incredible how far we’ve come.

‘To so many of you standing in this room tonight, thanks you so much.’

She said her strong vote in the blue-ribbon seat as representing ‘calling time’ on negativity and spin in politics.

The  seat was one of several in NSW with high numbers of disaffected Liberal voters facing challenges from so-called ‘teal’ candidates (pictured, campaigners in April)

The elected MP said she would be willing to speak to both the Labor and Libera parties before throwing her support behind their legislation. 

‘What I want to make really clear, is I’ll maintain my independence throughout parliament,’ she told news.com.au prior to election day. 

‘I’m not interested in building a coalition with anyone.

The Wentworth seat was one of several in NSW with high numbers of disaffected Liberal voters facing challenges from so-called ‘teal’ candidates. 

Dissatisfaction with Morrison’s leadership raised the real possibility that Wentworth – held by Sharma with a 1.3 per cent margin – could fall to an independent. 

The seat, which is geographically the second smallest in the country, has been a Liberal stronghold since World War II and has never been held by Labor since Federation in 1901

The seat, which is geographically the second smallest in the country, has been a Liberal stronghold since World War II and has never been held by Labor since Federation in 1901.

Ms Spender is the businesswoman daughter of fashion designer Carla Zampatti and federal Liberal frontbencher John Spender.

She attended Ascham School at Edgecliff where she was head girl and dux in her final year with a Tertiary Entrance Rank of 99.95. She then gained an economics degree from Cambridge, a Master of Science at the University of London and completed business courses at Harvard.

Ms Spender worked as a business analyst at McKinsey and with the UK Treasury as a policy analyst before becoming managing director at Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd.

Ms Spender (pictured in April) is the CEO of the Australian Business and Community Network, has two sons and lives at Darling Point

She is CEO of the Australian Business and Community Network, has two sons and lives at Darling Point.

Climate change is a major issue in Wentworth and both candidates are strong supporters of renewable energy sources. The Coalition has a target to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030. Ms Spender wants at least 50 per cent.

Ms Spender is backed by the Climate 200 fund established by investor and political activist Simon Holmes à Court, whose father Robert was Australia’s first billionaire. 

Ms Spender says Mr Sharma cannot do enough on climate change as a member of a Coalition government, while he says she cannot make real change if elected as an independent.

Mr Sharma, 46, is a moderate Liberal but Ms Spender, 44, says he does not vote on legislation as a true moderate and is beholden to the party rather than Wentworth’s constituents.