2025 Canadian federal election - Jagmeet Singh's loss: Mark Carney, the incumbent prime minister, won the recent Canadian federal elections, but for observers of India-Canada relations, the key candidate was Jagmeet Singh. The New Democratic Party (NDP) leader emerged as the worst loser, far from his earlier role as kingmaker. Carney will lead a minority government of the Liberal Party. Singh's loss may be result in a sigh of relief for Indian decision-makers, given his blatantly open support of the Khalistani separatist movement.&nbsp;
Singh, as the backer of the previous Liberal government, literally made the former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, dance to Bhangra tunes to cling on to power. NDP is not going to be the kingmaker for some time. But it is too early to write the political obituary of Jagmeet Singh. And the Khalistani movement, which he supported and is his political capital, is alive, and will be kicking for some time in Canada.
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<h2>How the Canadian election panned out for Jagmeet Singh and his NDP</h2>
Singh's defeat is being seen as historic, as NDP even lost official party status. Singh himself lost his seat in Burnaby Central, and resigned as NDP leader.
After the April 28 elections for 343 seats, the NDP won seven seats as against 25 in 2021, and only 6.3 per cent of the popular vote, down from 17.8 per cent in 2021. Since it did not win the required 12 seats, NDP lost official party status.&nbsp;
<h2> The Liberal Party victory was partly thanks to Trump</h2>
If there is one factor that helped Carney, and went against NDP, it would be the constant taunting of Canada by the US President Donald Trump. He teased the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state of the US, and followed it up with a trade war. This created a kind of national unity among Liberal party voters, with US-Canada relations -&nbsp; not so much domestic issues - becoming the key election issue.
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-new-path-forward-carneys-liberals-secure-victory-in-canadian-elections-amid-trumps-looming-threats-9015254">&lsquo;A new path forward&rsquo;: Carney&rsquo;s Liberals secure victory in Canadian elections amid Trump&rsquo;s looming threats</a>
So, one can argue that the NDP's loss didn't happen 'under normal circumstances'. Singh's political fortunes could have been different if it were not for Trump.
In choosing who could be a good counterforce to Trump, the Canadian voters were split between the Liberals and Conservatives, leaving NDP by the wayside. It is clear from the almost equal popular vote received by the Liberals and Conservatives.
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-pro-khalistan-jagmeet-singhs-poll-setback-pave-way-for-canada-to-take-action-against-khalistani-terrorism-9018259">Will pro-Khalistan Jagmeet Singh's poll setback pave way for Canada to take action against Khalistani terrorism?</a>
Out of some 59 seats that flipped parties, all went to either Liberals or Conservatives.
Carney was able to rally the people against Trump rhetoric, proven by the popular vote of 41.6 per cent for the Liberals, which is much higher than 32.6 per cent it got in 2021.
Eventually, the Liberals won 169 seats, just three down from the required majority.&nbsp;
The Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre came a close second with 144 seats and an impressive 41.1 per cent of popular votes, which is very close to that of Liberals.
But then, Poilievre lost his own seat in Carleton, Ontario, a shocking upset.&nbsp;
It was the Conservatives who gained from the NDP&rsquo;s epic fail, yet they could not win the election.
The Bloc Qu&eacute;b&eacute;cois party won 22 seats, having lost 13 from its 2021 tally.
<h2>Jagmeet Singh&rsquo;s rise and fall</h2>
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When Jagmeet Singh became the leader of NDP in 2017, it was a proud moment for many Indians, at least at the start. He was the first Sikh, indeed the first person from a visible minority in Canada, to become the leader of a national party. That he came from a community once shunned in Canada in the 20th Century added sweetness to his rise.
The former Ontario MPP, often featured in luxury magazines for his sense of style, was compared to Barack Obama in the US.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indo-canadian-mps-hit-new-high-in-canada-polls-sukh-dhaliwal-anita-anand-9015726">Indo-Canadian MPs hit new high in Canada polls: How many got elected this year? | Full list</a>
In 2022, his agreement to support the Liberal government of Trudeau was seen as the peak point of his power. But by then, Trudeau and his government had become unpopular.&nbsp;
<h2>What happened to Jagmeet Singh's NDP in Canadian election 2025?</h2>
 As mentioned earlier, it was not an election where NDP was a key player. The electorate was mainly divided between the Liberals and Conservatives. &nbsp;It is being observed that there was 'strategic voting': in order to keep Conservatives away from power, many NDP voters may have cast the ballot in favour of Liberal Party candidates.
Singh was personally targeted with attack ads. He also bore the brunt for having kept the unpopualr government of Trudeau in power.
Eventually, his campaign failed to convince the voters, and he finished third in his own seat of Bursaby Central.
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<h2>How bad is Jagmeet Singh's loss in 2025 Canadian election? </h2>
The NDP's performance - down from 24 seats in 2021 to seven in 2025 - is the worst since 1993, when it won nine seats under the leadership of Audrey McLaughlin.
NDP's popular vote was down to 6.3 per cent from 17.8 per cent in 2021.
The NDP stronghold of British Columbia was among places where it lost ground. In Vancouver Island, it lost five out of six seats.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/canadian-elections-liberals-victory-has-implications-for-many-including-themselves-9018193">Canadian elections: Liberals&rsquo; victory has implications for many, including themselves</a>
It was totally trounced in Ontario, having lost even seats like Hamilton Centre, which it had held for over 20 years.
<h2>Traditional NDP voters got split between Liberals and Conservatives</h2>
According to reports, NDP lost favour among urban and working class Ridings, some of which were won by Liberals and Conservatives with double-digit margins.
Singh&rsquo;s stint as NDP leader was showing signs of fatigue in the runup to the election.
Losing traditional bases like British Colombia and Ontario was a major concern: NDP won no seats in Ontario, and suffered losses in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
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<h2>What is the future for Jagmeet Singh? </h2>
Losing the official party status is going to be a big blow for NDP.&nbsp; It means a cut in funding and research support. The party will get less speaking time in the House of Commons. NDP will have lesser representation in key committees, which is crucial for building influence.&nbsp;
Singh could not convert some of his policy victories as the junior partner of the Trudeau government into votes.
His support for Khalistani separtaist movement in Canada impacted his image as a progressive leader.
The party will now have to go back to the working class and progressive constituency it has lost, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario.
There is some hope that, with Singh gone from the limelight, India and Canada can improve their relationship.
But it is far too early to predict that Singh is done and dusted as a leader.
in his concession speech, Singh hinted at the NDP rising up again, using the Sikh concept of &nbsp;&ldquo;Chardi Kala&rdquo; (rising spirits).
In no other time in Canadian political history did the Khalistan movement become such a key issue as during Singh's tenure as NDP chief. By now, that movement has gained momentum. It would take some effort from Indian policymakers to change their course in Canada.
While Singh's exit, for now, as the NDP leader is the 'end of an era moment' for the party, his presence will be crucial for its rebuilding.
To that extent, it is too early to write his political obituary.

Canada election analysis: Jagmeet Singh, khalistani supporter, was once the poster boy of progressives. Now the NDP leader faces a political winter.  World | India News

2025 Canadian federal election - Jagmeet Singh's loss: Mark Carney, the incumbent prime minister, won the recent Canadian federal elections, but for observers of India-Canada relations, the key candidate was Jagmeet Singh. The New Democratic Party (NDP) leader emerged as the worst loser, far from his earlier role as kingmaker. Carney will lead a minority government of the Liberal Party. Singh's loss may be result in a sigh of relief for Indian decision-makers, given his blatantly open support of the Khalistani separatist movement. Singh, as the backer of the previous Liberal government, literally made the former prime minister, Justin Trudeau, dance to Bhangra tunes to cling on to power. NDP is not going to be the kingmaker for some time. But it is too early to write the political obituary of Jagmeet Singh. And the Khalistani movement, which he supported and is his political capital, is alive, and will be kicking for some time in Canada. How the Canadian election panned out for Jagmeet Singh and his NDP Singh's defeat is being seen as historic, as NDP even lost official party status. Singh himself lost his seat in Burnaby Central, and resigned as NDP leader. After the April 28 elections for 343 seats, the NDP won seven seats as against 25 in 2021, and only 6.3 per cent of the popular vote, down from 17.8 per cent in 2021. Since it did not win the required 12 seats, NDP lost official party status. The Liberal Party victory was partly thanks to Trump If there is one factor that helped Carney, and went against NDP, it would be the constant taunting of Canada by the US President Donald Trump. He teased the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state of the US, and followed it up with a trade war. This created a kind of national unity among Liberal party voters, with US-Canada relations - not so much domestic issues - becoming the key election issue. ‘A new path forward’: Carney’s Liberals secure victory in Canadian elections amid Trump’s looming threats So, one can argue that the NDP's loss didn't happen 'under normal circumstances'. Singh's political fortunes could have been different if it were not for Trump. In choosing who could be a good counterforce to Trump, the Canadian voters were split between the Liberals and Conservatives, leaving NDP by the wayside. It is clear from the almost equal popular vote received by the Liberals and Conservatives. Will pro-Khalistan Jagmeet Singh's poll setback pave way for Canada to take action against Khalistani terrorism? Out of some 59 seats that flipped parties, all went to either Liberals or Conservatives. Carney was able to rally the people against Trump rhetoric, proven by the popular vote of 41.6 per cent for the Liberals, which is much higher than 32.6 per cent it got in 2021. Eventually, the Liberals won 169 seats, just three down from the required majority. The Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre came a close second with 144 seats and an impressive 41.1 per cent of popular votes, which is very close to that of Liberals. But then, Poilievre lost his own seat in Carleton, Ontario, a shocking upset. It was the Conservatives who gained from the NDP’s epic fail, yet they could not win the election. The Bloc Québécois party won 22 seats, having lost 13 from its 2021 tally. Jagmeet Singh’s rise and fall When Jagmeet Singh became the leader of NDP in 2017, it was a proud moment for many Indians, at least at the start. He was the first Sikh, indeed the first person from a visible minority in Canada, to become the leader of a national party. That he came from a community once shunned in Canada in the 20th Century added sweetness to his rise. The former Ontario MPP, often featured in luxury magazines for his sense of style, was compared to Barack Obama in the US. Indo-Canadian MPs hit new high in Canada polls: How many got elected this year? | Full list In 2022, his agreement to support the Liberal government of Trudeau was seen as the peak point of his power. But by then, Trudeau and his government had become unpopular. What happened to Jagmeet Singh's NDP in Canadian election 2025? As mentioned earlier, it was not an election where NDP was a key player. The electorate was mainly divided between the Liberals and Conservatives. It is being observed that there was 'strategic voting': in order to keep Conservatives away from power, many NDP voters may have cast the ballot in favour of Liberal Party candidates. Singh was personally targeted with attack ads. He also bore the brunt for having kept the unpopualr government of Trudeau in power. Eventually, his campaign failed to convince the voters, and he finished third in his own seat of Bursaby Central. How bad is Jagmeet Singh's loss in 2025 Canadian election? The NDP's performance - down from 24 seats in 2021 to seven in 2025 - is the worst since 1993, when it won nine seats under the leadership of Audrey McLaughlin. NDP's popular vote was down to 6.3 per cent from 17.8 per cent in 2021. The NDP stronghold of British Columbia was among places where it lost ground. In Vancouver Island, it lost five out of six seats. Canadian elections: Liberals’ victory has implications for many, including themselves It was totally trounced in Ontario, having lost even seats like Hamilton Centre, which it had held for over 20 years. Traditional NDP voters got split between Liberals and Conservatives According to reports, NDP lost favour among urban and working class Ridings, some of which were won by Liberals and Conservatives with double-digit margins. Singh’s stint as NDP leader was showing signs of fatigue in the runup to the election. Losing traditional bases like British Colombia and Ontario was a major concern: NDP won no seats in Ontario, and suffered losses in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island. What is the future for Jagmeet Singh? Losing the official party status is going to be a big blow for NDP. It means a cut in funding and research support. The party will get less speaking time in the House of Commons. NDP will have lesser representation in key committees, which is crucial for building influence. Singh could not convert some of his policy victories as the junior partner of the Trudeau government into votes. His support for Khalistani separtaist movement in Canada impacted his image as a progressive leader. The party will now have to go back to the working class and progressive constituency it has lost, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario. There is some hope that, with Singh gone from the limelight, India and Canada can improve their relationship. But it is far too early to predict that Singh is done and dusted as a leader. in his concession speech, Singh hinted at the NDP rising up again, using the Sikh concept of “Chardi Kala” (rising spirits). In no other time in Canadian political history did the Khalistan movement become such a key issue as during Singh's tenure as NDP chief. By now, that movement has gained momentum. It would take some effort from Indian policymakers to change their course in Canada. While Singh's exit, for now, as the NDP leader is the 'end of an era moment' for the party, his presence will be crucial for its rebuilding. To that extent, it is too early to write his political obituary.

Jagmeet Singh's political obituary is being written, but the Khalistan movement he supported thrives in Canada

Canada is in election mode and Indians are in the focus. Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off his re-election bid.&nbsp;

A long and intense period of campaigning lies ahead of him. The election is on October 21 and the world is watching the political rise of Indian-Canadians.&nbsp;

Indian-Canadians are one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the country with the trend to remain strong for the foreseeable future. &nbsp;

In 2018, almost 40, 000 Indian citizens took permanent residency of Canada - 43 per cent of the total residencies granted. This reflects that 43 per cent of legal migrants to Canada last year were Indians.

Canada - immigration friendly

Canada has an ageing population. Senior citizens outnumbered children in 2017. The Canadian government, therefore, looked outside for younger and educated people to make up a new workforce. &nbsp;

It opened its doors for the immigrants. This election is set to be a test for that 'open-door' policy.&nbsp;

Trudeau's liberal values, personal charm and large supporter base ensured that he was elected with an outright majority in 2015. But in the last couple of years, blunders within his administration have punctured Trudeau's popularity.

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Jagmeet Singh

This year's Canadian election will be closely watched for another reason. A record number of candidates of Indian origin will feature in these polls.&nbsp;

An official confirmation is still awaited but the final number could be as high as 50 candidates of Indian origin.&nbsp;

Last time around, 19 Indian Canadians from Trudeau's liberal party had won the election. 18 of them were of Punjabi origin with five women candidates.&nbsp;

Kicking off a six-week-long campaign recently, Justin Trudeau said, "Beyond the liberals, people will have their eyes on one candidate in particular. Jagmeet Singh - the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party. He could very well emerge as the kingmaker in this two-sided contest".

Singh is the first non-white contender to lead a major political party in Canada and he has made some ambitious promises. But, India should be worried about Canada's rising political star as Jagmeet Singh is seen as a Khalistan sympathiser.&nbsp;

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Growing number of Indians in Canada

According to the 2015 census, one in five Canadians today was born outside the country as a citizen of another country. As of 2017, the maximum number of immigrants in Canada were Indians.

India tops the list when it comes to the immigrant population in Canada by the country of birth, China comes second.&nbsp;

These numbers are significant. People of Indian origin can make or break elections in Canada. This explains why a person of Indian origin, Jagmeet Singh, is one of the candidates in the fray for the post of the Canadian prime minister.

This also explains why Trudeau always flaunts his fondness for Indians.

While Singh's presence could derail Trudeau this time, he is not likely to win. Singh will be the kingmaker, cutting into Trudeau's votes.

If that happens, it would mean that immigration - Trudeau's go-to political ploy, has failed. 
&nbsp;

Canada is in election mode and Indians are in the focus. Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off his re-election bid. A long and intense period of campaigning lies ahead of him.

Canada is in election mode and Indians are in the focus. Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off his re-election bid. A long and intense period of campaigning lies ahead of him. The election is on October 21 and the world is watching the political rise of Indian-Canadians. Indian-Canadians are one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the country with the trend to remain strong for the foreseeable future. In 2018, almost 40, 000 Indian citizens took permanent residency of Canada - 43 per cent of the total residencies granted. This reflects that 43 per cent of legal migrants to Canada last year were Indians. Canada - immigration friendly Canada has an ageing population. Senior citizens outnumbered children in 2017. The Canadian government, therefore, looked outside for younger and educated people to make up a new workforce. It opened its doors for the immigrants. This election is set to be a test for that 'open-door' policy. Trudeau's liberal values, personal charm and large supporter base ensured that he was elected with an outright majority in 2015. But in the last couple of years, blunders within his administration have punctured Trudeau's popularity. × Jagmeet Singh This year's Canadian election will be closely watched for another reason. A record number of candidates of Indian origin will feature in these polls. An official confirmation is still awaited but the final number could be as high as 50 candidates of Indian origin. Last time around, 19 Indian Canadians from Trudeau's liberal party had won the election. 18 of them were of Punjabi origin with five women candidates. Kicking off a six-week-long campaign recently, Justin Trudeau said, "Beyond the liberals, people will have their eyes on one candidate in particular. Jagmeet Singh - the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party. He could very well emerge as the kingmaker in this two-sided contest". Singh is the first non-white contender to lead a major political party in Canada and he has made some ambitious promises. But, India should be worried about Canada's rising political star as Jagmeet Singh is seen as a Khalistan sympathiser. × Growing number of Indians in Canada According to the 2015 census, one in five Canadians today was born outside the country as a citizen of another country. As of 2017, the maximum number of immigrants in Canada were Indians. India tops the list when it comes to the immigrant population in Canada by the country of birth, China comes second. These numbers are significant. People of Indian origin can make or break elections in Canada. This explains why a person of Indian origin, Jagmeet Singh, is one of the candidates in the fray for the post of the Canadian prime minister. This also explains why Trudeau always flaunts his fondness for Indians. While Singh's presence could derail Trudeau this time, he is not likely to win. Singh will be the kingmaker, cutting into Trudeau's votes. If that happens, it would mean that immigration - Trudeau's go-to political ploy, has failed.

As Canada gears for elections, here's why Indian-Canadians are set to play crucial role 

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Jagmeet Singh's political obituary is being written, but the Khalistan movement he supported thrives in Canada

As Canada gears for elections, here's why Indian-Canadians are set to play crucial role