NDP’s Jagmeet Singh Resigns After Party’s Major Setback in Canadian Elections

A major development has occurred in Canadian politics. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down from party leadership after losing his sitting seat in the recently held general elections. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party has secured victory, retaining power, although it fell short of achieving a full majority.

Jagmeet Singh, aged 46, who aimed to secure a third consecutive victory from the Burnaby Central constituency in British Columbia, faced disappointment in this election. He was defeated by Liberal Party candidate Wade Chang. Singh received approximately 27 percent of the votes, while Chang secured more than 40 percent.

Along with his personal defeat, the New Democratic Party under Jagmeet Singh's leadership also suffered a severe setback. The party's seat count dropped significantly, falling short of the minimum 12-seat threshold required to maintain official national party status in Canada, thereby risking the loss of its national recognition. This result marks a major blow to Singh, who had assumed leadership of the party in 2017.

Reacting to the election results and his defeat, Jagmeet Singh expressed his views on the platform 'X' (formerly Twitter). "I know tonight's results are disappointing for New Democrats. But we only truly lose when we believe those who say a better Canada isn’t possible," he said. Singh stated that while he was disappointed with the party's inability to win more seats, he remained hopeful about the party’s movement and the future.

"We always choose hope over fear. New Democrats built this country. We built the best parts of Canada. We’re not going anywhere," Singh asserted. He explained that he is facing this situation with inspiration from the Sikh teaching of 'Chardi Kala' (a spirit of optimism and resilience) imparted to him by his mother. In this context, he announced his decision to resign from party leadership.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to form the government for the fourth consecutive term. Major media outlets like CBC have confirmed the Liberal Party's victory. However, it remains unclear whether the Liberals have secured the 172 seats required for a simple majority in Canada's 338-seat House of Commons. According to the latest information, the Liberals are leading or have won 164 seats. In the absence of a full majority, they may need the support of smaller parties to govern. Mark Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister last month, previously served as Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, the Conservative Party is poised to emerge as a strong opposition with 147 seats. The vote counting is still underway.