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Punjabis in Canada Also In
Election Mode
WSN Network
SURREY: Elections
to British Columbia lawmaking Assembly feature 15 Punjabis. At a
time when many non-resident Punjabis are visiting India to
contribute their mite to the electioneering for Parliament, Punjabi
diaspora in Canada is also in a proactive mode for the BC elections,
campaigning for which started last month. Polling is due on May 12.
Total of 85 candidates are in the fray.
These 15 candidates
include seven sitting MLAs. The eighth sitting MLA Surinder Kaur
Ahluwalia is not contesting this time due to health reasons.
British Columbia
Attorney-General Wally Uppal of the Liberal Party is contesting from
Delta (South), where he has lived for several years. At present he
represents Vancouver-Fraser view. Former West Vancouver Police Chief
Kash Heed of the Liberal Party will contest for the first time from
Fraserview.
In Surrey
Fleetwood, another Liberal, Jagmohan Singh Surrey, the first
turbaned-Sikh, is pitched against two-time MLA Jagroop Singh Brar
of the New Democratic Party. Chamkaur Sandhu of the Conservatives
and Independent candidate Harry Bains are also vying for the seat.
The Parliamentary Secretary of British Columbia, Sukhdev Singh
Hayer, is contesting from Surrey Tynehead.
In Abbotsford, four
Punjabis are fighting on the NDP ticket, Taranjit Singh Purewal of
the NDP is pitched against Dalbir Singh Banipal of Conservatives
from Abbotsford (West). From Abbotsford (South), a Canadian born
Punjabi Jasvir Bonnie Kaur Rai is fighting against Gurcharan
Dhaliwal of Conservatives.
Former Transport
Minister Harry Lali is contesting from Chilliwack Hope, Raj Pal
Singh Chauhan from Burnaby Edmonds on NDP ticket. The sitting MLA
Herkanwal Singh Bains of Surrey (Newton) is contesting and from
Richmond Center, Kam Brar is the candidate. Another first timer Rani
Mangat is the candidate from Surrey (Green Timber).
The Nanaimo
Assembly seat is being contested by former city councilor Jeet
Minhas of Daruli village in Jalandhar against Nanaimo MLA Leonard
Krog. Krog is quite popular and his chances of winning are strong.
13
May 2009
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