The BC NDP executive disqualified one of only two candidates — Anjali Appadurai — from the party’s leadership race, meaning David Eby will become premier..In a Wednesday evening statement following a closed-door meeting, BC NDP President Aaron Sumexheltza said his party's executive voted to support chief electoral officer Elizabeth Cull's recently leaked recommendation to disqualify Appadurai from her ability to run..“This has been a challenging period for members of the party, and I thank Elizabeth Cull, the party’s table officers, and the executive for their dedication to their roles,” said Sumexheltza..“I know they did not make this decision lightly.”.Cull recommended the axing over alleged breaches of the leadership race’s rules, accusing Appadurai of having coordinated with third parties, including environmental group Dogwood BC, to conduct membership drives on her behalf..The allegations, which picked up significant traction in late September, included accusations Appadurai's campaign offered to pay for new membership fees and encouraged Dogwood's Green Party members to temporarily switch parties..Cull said the misconduct couldn’t be forgiven with any consequence short of disqualification; the BC NDP executive agreed..Denying all wrongdoing, Appadurai fought against efforts to disqualify her in recent days and weeks, calling the attempt “undemocratic” and suggesting her campaign has been treated unfairly since its conception..“It’s in all of our interests to allow the members to decide the next leader,” she recently said..Eby has the vast majority of his caucus’ support whereas Appadurai — a party outsider — doesn’t have the support of a single BC NDP caucus member. .The 32-year-old activist was the federal NDP candidate for the riding of Vancouver-Granville in 2021's federal election, losing to Liberal Taleeb Noormohomed by less than 500 votes.."The Appadurai campaign is being mischaracterized as dishonest and faulted for the act of revitalizing our party’s membership. In the spirit of democracy and healthy debate, we urge you to allow the race to continue, and to let the members decide the new leader," read a campaign statement prior to the party's executing blow.
