Indo-canadian party leader to face polls

TORONTO: Jagmeet Singh, the Indian-canadian leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), faces the toughest test of his political career next month in a by-election to the federal seat of Burnaby South.

The February 25 poll is Singh’s effort to enter the House of Commons. Thomas Mulcair, his predecessor, warned it will be “very, very difficult” for Singh to continue at the helm of the party if he were to suffer defeat. “It would be extremely difficult for Mr Singh to stick around,” Mulcair told Canadian network CTV.

Singh faces a challenge to retain the riding (as constituencies are called in Canada) for the NDP. It was won by the NDP'S Kennedy Stewart by less than 550 votes in 2015. Stewart resigned the seat to contest for the Mayor of Vancouver, which he won.

Since then, the Justin Trudeau government has kept Singh on tenterhooks by delaying the announcement of the by-election, and after it was finally scheduled, Singhaccusedtheprimeminister of “playing games”.

Other top parties haven’t extended the “courtesy” given to those holding such a post by allowing them to run unopposed.

While the Green Party is not fielding a candidate, both the Liberal and Conservative parties have nominated candidates to oppose Singh. His opponents are locals of the area, while Singh is from Brampton in Ontario.