Jagmeet Singh steps down after crushing defeat in Canada polls

In a stunning reversal of political fortunes, Jagmeet Singh, the Indo-Canadian leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), announced his resignation after leading his party to one of its worst electoral outcomes in recent Canadian history. Singh also lost his own seat in Burnaby Central, British Columbia, where he finished third with less than 19% of the vote.

The NDP is projected to win only seven seats in the federal election—an 18-seat decline from its 2021 tally—raising the risk of losing its official party status in the House of Commons. The party’s national vote share collapsed to just six percent, down by 12 percentage points, signaling widespread discontent among the electorate.

Singh’s loss in Burnaby Central was particularly symbolic. Once a stronghold, it flipped dramatically, with Liberal candidate Wade Chang and Conservative James Yan both polling thousands of votes ahead of him. The defeat capped a political journey that began with promise in 2017, when Singh became the first person of colour to lead a major national party in Canada.

Many observers attribute the downfall to Singh’s controversial 2022 decision to support Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government through a supply and confidence agreement. Though Trudeau stepped down in early 2025, Singh remained tainted by the perception that he helped prop up an increasingly unpopular administration.

Despite the crushing results, Singh addressed supporters in Burnaby with a defiant tone, referencing the Sikh principle of chardi kala—resilient optimism in the face of adversity. Standing beside his wife Gurkiran, Singh said, “The party is not going anywhere,” though he confirmed he would resign once an interim leader is appointed.

Singh’s political career has long been shaped by both his progressive image and the controversies surrounding his perceived sympathies with the Khalistan movement. He faced fierce criticism over his past appearances at rallies featuring posters of Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind behind the 1985 Air India bombing. In 2018, Singh publicly acknowledged Parmar’s role and condemned his actions after initially avoiding clear answers.

His political journey began in 2011 with a successful bid for the Ontario provincial parliament. He later transitioned to the federal stage, winning the Burnaby South seat in 2019 and retaining it in 2021. However, 2025 marks the end of a tumultuous chapter—one that promised transformation but ended in political isolation.