NDP is charging that the merger of BC’s two rightwing parties is leading to diverse candidates, especially those from Surrey, to be replaced after they were recruited and nominated by BC Conservative leader John Rustad. Over the weekend, Rustad forced out the second of two South Asian women running in Surrey to make room for his preferred candidates, NDP charged. Saran posted to social media about candidates being bullied out by Rustad.  “As a candidate in Surrey – Panorama, I witnessed a Conservative candidate in White Rock being bullied into leaving their riding & to choose either the Fleetwood or Panorama riding. I could no longer watch this drama unfold & did the right thing by moving to a side, to make room for the White Rock candidate. I will now be running Independent in my riding.  The Provincial Conservative Party is now a Liberal Party running under the Conservative Banner,” Saran wrote on twitter (Now X)

By PD Raj – Senior Reporter DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY – NDP is charging that the merger of BC’s two rightwing parties is leading to diverse candidates, especially those from Surrey, to be replaced after they were recruited and nominated by BC Conservative leader John Rustad.

Over the weekend, Rustad forced out the second of two South Asian women running in Surrey to make room for his preferred candidates, NDP charged. 

The changes come after Kevin Falcon’s disastrous reign as BC United party leader (formerly BC Liberal) ended as he dropped out and merged with the leading Conservative Party of BC led by Rustad.

Rustad booted Dupinder Saran on Sundau from Surrey-Panorama to make room to move over the White Rock candidate, Bryan Tepper.

Jody Toor was earlier bumped from Surrey-Cloverdale to Langley to make room for Elenore Sturko. Rustad moved Toor when it would have made more sense to move Brent Chapman, who is running Sturko’s home riding of Surrey South. 

“John Rustad could have dropped Bryan Tepper or Brent Chapman, but forced out two South Asian women instead,” said BC NDP’s riding MLA Jinny Sims. “It says a lot about who he’s willing to make space for, and who he isn’t.”

Saran posted to social media about candidates being bullied out by Rustad. 

“As a candidate in Surrey – Panorama, I witnessed a Conservative candidate in White Rock being bullied into leaving their riding & to choose either the Fleetwood or Panorama riding. I could no longer watch this drama unfold & did the right thing by moving to a side, to make room for the White Rock candidate. I will now be running Independent in my riding.  The Provincial Conservative Party is now a Liberal Party running under the Conservative Banner,” Saran wrote on twitter (Now X)

“Thank you to all my supporters. The work carries on just under a different banner. My own & that of my team’s.”

Sims says this shows a pattern of Rustad giving South Asian candidates the short end of the stick.

“South Asian representation in Surrey is important, but John Rustad has twice forced out South Asian candidates in favour of white men,” said Sims. “Why is he only sacrificing the South Asian candidates?” 

Both Saran and Toor as well as other South Asian-Indo-Canadian candidates were recruited by their Indo-Canadian liaison who previously worked with BC Liberal party and particularly Dianne Watts’ failed leadership bid. She split from the BC Liberals after falling out with Watts and refused to support Falcon because he was backed by Watts and jumped ship to Rustad’s BC Conservatives.