The preselection challenge for  the safe Labor seat of Calwell currently held by Federal MP, Maria Vamvakinou has collapsed, according to Labor Party sources.

The challenger Andrew Richards from the ultra left splinter group of the Metal Workers Union, The Workers First, withdrew his nomination.

The move caused major strife within the Left faction of the party and threatened to upset the sensitive peace accord reached in Victoria between the two warring ALP factions.

Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE) contacted Maria Vamvakinou who expressed satisfaction with this latest development.

“I feel vindicated because despite everything that was going on I received enormous support from my constituents. There are many branch members who were outraged by this challenge and who believed that Mr Richards had no valid claim,” Mrs Vamvakinou underscored.

In an interview with NKEE last week, ALP political heavyweight Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr had branded Mr Richards’ challenge as a “nuisance nomination” aimed at leveraging concessions from the Left faction.

“At the end of the day I know it would have been a question of my record as a member of Parliament versus opportunistic political games,” Mrs Vamvakinou said.