British Columbia Election: Sahib Thind of NDP to Face Incumbent MLA Mandeep Dhaliwal of Conservatives in Surrey North
Punjabi Community and Local Issues to Play Key Roles
Hardam Mann
Surrey, October 18, 2026: Surrey North has emerged as a constituency of particular interest in British Columbia’s provincial elections. Sahib Thind is contesting from the BC NDP, while incumbent MLA Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal is representing the Conservative Party of BC. Both candidates have Punjabi backgrounds and are known within the Punjabi community, making this contest particularly noteworthy. Their presence in the race has generated political discussion in Surrey North, with voters keenly watching the electoral battle.
Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal won Surrey North in the 2024 provincial election as a Conservative candidate. He secured 7,954 votes, while NDP candidate Rachna Singh received 6,795 votes. Dhaliwal won by a margin of 1,159 votes. As the incumbent MLA, he now faces the challenge of retaining the seat. His performance, engagement with constituents and the Conservative Party’s policies are likely to feature prominently in the election debate.
On the other hand, the BC NDP has nominated Sahib Thind as its candidate. Thind has been active in Surrey’s social and cultural spheres. He is the founder and president of the Professor Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, an organisation known for commemorating the Komagata Maru tragedy and undertaking related historical and social initiatives. He has also been associated with Surrey’s annual Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da. In 2017, he was honoured with the BC Medal of Good Citizenship. His community involvement and social activism are important aspects of his candidacy.
Given the significant Punjabi population in Surrey North, reaching out to voters across different communities will be important for both candidates. However, the outcome will not depend solely on the preferences of Punjabi voters; the priorities of other residents will also matter. Rising housing prices and rents, healthcare, employment, education, public transportation and public safety are among the issues that could influence voters’ decisions. Voters will also assess the candidates’ proposed solutions to these challenges and how their respective parties plan to implement their election promises.
It is noteworthy that several other candidates are also contesting from the constituency, including Parm Bhandol of Centre BC, Yudhvir Gill of the BC Green Party, Tanya Gupta of OneBC and independent candidate Jag Bhandari. The presence of these candidates could also influence the outcome through vote splitting and the distribution of support among different parties.
Hardam Mann
Special Reporter, British Columbia, Canada
Phone: +1 604 308 6663
Email: maanbabushahi@gmail.com