NDP leadership election ends in one disqualification and one victor

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Vancouver-Point Grey MLA David Eby was declared British Columbia’s new premier on Oct. 21, after the B.C. NDP leadership candidate Anjali Appadurai was disqualified from the race. 

An internal investigation by the BC NDP executive council alleges that Appadurai used the environmental non-profit organization, Dogwood B.C., as a third-party recruitment platform, offered to pay fees for new members, and encouraged members of the BC Green Party to quit and temporarily join the BC NDP to vote for her. 

The executive committee made their decision after a four hour meeting on Oct. 19, which included a 40-minute debate on a motion that would have permitted Appadurai to defend herself before the committee. 

Kwantlen Polytechnic University political science instructor, Dr. Ross Michael Pink, says it seemed like the NDP didn’t want an open competition at this time. 

“They wanted to have somebody that they’ve already decided upon as the next leader be appointed and then take over the reins very seamlessly,” Pink says. 

“Politics is an extremely competitive world…. It’s about who gets what. So, obviously, whoever becomes leader is a very important decision.” 

Pink says party leaders must represent the various interests of their caucus, and for the BC NDP the biggest priority was for a leader to take over right away to replace Premier John Horgan. 

Citing this year’s Conservative Party of Canada leadership race, Pink says political parties normally welcome competition. The party’s desire to install a new premier so quickly was motivated by unease brought upon by the Official Opposition, he says. 

“In the case of the [BC] NDP, I think they’re a little bit intimidated by Kevin Falcon, the new BC Liberals leader,” Pink says. “They wanted a seamless leadership race to bring in David Eby, and then Eby can get familiar with the job, get known by the public, and then start making his own influence over the party.” 

The BC NDP appeared to have favoured Eby’s leadership bid from the start. He accumulated many endorsements from the party’s caucus and ran unopposed for four months until Appadurai’s entry into the election. Further enforcing the notion is the premier-designate’s transitional team, which appears to consist of many high-profile politicians.

Considering the circumstances of Eby’s acclimation, the possibility of a popular push for a provincial election to take place within the next year is not off the table for Pink.

“If you want to be a true democrat and respect the will of the people … there’s a very valid, rational argument to be made that the new leader should — within a reasonable amount of time — call an election.”

With regards to Appadurai’s disqualification from the contest, Pink declined to comment on the allegations. 

“I don’t know the facts…. It’s not really fair to comment on allegations, because where are these allegations coming from? Do they have any legal basis?” 

For transparency, Pink says the BC NDP eventually should publicize their findings either partly or in whole, and that Appadurai standing by the party was motivated by a desire to maintain a future in politics.

The disqualification will not have any major, or lasting, effects on the coming Eby government. British Columbians have more important political issues in mind, Pink says. 

“It’s not a story that has much staying power. I don’t think most British Columbians care about it,” he says. “People are really focused on pocketbook issues … the real issues will be the policies of Eby, the policies of Falcon, and how well the economy of B.C. is doing.”

The next provincial election will be in 2024, unless a snap election is called sooner.