The Conservative Party of British Columbia is set to form the next government in British Columbia after defeating the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) in the provincial election on October 24. The election was called early by NDP leader David Eby. The results also saw 15 Punjabi-origin candidates elected, 12 of them from the Conservatives and three from the NDP, according to preliminary figures.

The Conservatives were leading in 64 of the 93 seats, against 27 for the NDP and two for the Green Party. The results mark a major setback for the NDP and a shift in the political representation of the Punjabi community in the province.

The change is also reflected in the party-wise break-up of Punjabi-origin MLAs. In the 2024 provincial election, 14 Punjabi-origin candidates were elected, nine from the NDP and five from the Conservatives. This time, the Conservatives account for 12 of the 15 winners.

Eby called the early election on September 22, nearly two years before the next election was due.…