Jagmeet Singh, the Indian-Canadian leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), has announced he will resign after a tough election night. He lost his seat in Burnaby Central, British Columbia, finishing third with only 19% of the votes. The Liberal Party’s Wade Chang and the Conservative Party’s James Yan got more votes, leaving Singh far behind.
The NDP had a tough time too, winning only seven seats—18 fewer than in the last federal election. This drop in support means they might lose their official status in the House of Commons, with their approval rating dropping to just 6%.
Singh’s difficulties partly stem from his decision to support the minority government of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since March 2022. Although Trudeau stepped down in January, many voters still blamed Singh for letting his unpopular government stay in power.
Singh first entered politics in 2011 and became a national figure when he was elected to the House of Commons for Burnaby South in 2019. He has held onto that seat in the elections of 2019 and 2021.
Speaking to his supporters after the results, Singh said, “Tonight is disappointing for New Democrats.” Standing with his wife, Gurkiran, he assured everyone that the party will continue. He mentioned a Sikh idea called chardi kala, meaning to stay hopeful and positive, even when facing challenges.
Throughout his political journey, Singh faced challenges, such as when the Indian government denied him a visa in 2013. Some people criticized him for attending events that had connections to the Khalistan movement. In 2018, he acknowledged that Talwinder Singh Parmar was responsible for the 1985 Air India bombing, showing he understood the pain caused by such actions.
Singh emphasized that he does not support those who glorify individuals like Parmar and believes such actions hurt many families. He strives for peace and healing in the community, wanting to move forward rather than dwell on past conflicts.
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