New Delhi:
Jagmeet Singh, the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party and a well-known pro-Khalistan figure, has been defeated in the 2025 Canadian federal election. His loss is seen as an opportunity for India and Canada to reset their diplomatic and trade relations, which had been strained by allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Nijjar, made by Mr Singh and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Despite repeatedly making these claims without evidence, Mr Singh was unable to retain his Burnaby Central Seat in British Columbia and was defeated by the Liberal Party’s Wade Chang.
Mr Singh’s NDP, which was expected to play a crucial role in the close election, also suffered a defeat.
The Canadian media has projected that the NDP will finish in fourth place, with only seven seats, far behind the Bloc Québécois led by Yves-Francois Blanchet with 23 seats and the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre with 147 seats.
Following his resounding defeat, Mr Singh resigned as the leader of the party, causing the NDP to lose its status as a national party under Canadian regulations, which require a party to hold at least 12 seats in the House of Commons.
Expressing his disappointment, the 46-year-old stated, “It has been the honor of my life to lead the NDP and represent the people of Burnaby Central. Congratulations to Prime Minister Carney and all other leaders on a hard-fought campaign. I understand that this night is disappointing for New Democrats.”
It’s been the honor of my life to lead the NDP, and to represent the people of Burnaby Central.
Congratulations to Prime Minister Carney, and to all the other leaders on a hard-fought campaign.
I know this night is disappointing for New Democrats. 🧵
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) April 29, 2025
The winner of the election is expected to be the Liberal Party led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, who managed to overcome the controversy surrounding Justin Trudeau’s baseless accusations of Indian involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was killed outside a Vancouver gurdwara in June 2023, sparking a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, exacerbated by the NDP’s support for Mr Trudeau’s minority government.
Trudeau repeatedly alleged that “agents” of the Indian government were behind Nijjar’s killing, but in January 2025, a Canadian commission report concluded that no definitive link to a foreign state could be established in the assassination.
Canada Targets, India Responds
During this period of strained relations, India and Canada expelled senior diplomats and recalled envoys, while Mr Singh continued to criticize India and call for action against pro-Khalistani elements.
Despite Mr Trudeau’s claims, no evidence of Indian government involvement in Nijjar’s killing was presented, leading to questions about the credibility of the accusations and the political motivations behind them.
With Jagmeet Singh’s departure from the political scene, there is an opportunity for Prime Minister Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to work together towards improving India-Canada relations.
