ELECTION 99
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Sihota Sabotages Dosanjh's Hopes of Becoming Premier

Arthur J Pais

The long-standing rivalry between two Sikh politicians in British Columbia has hurt the prospects of one of them becoming the premier of the province -- at least for now.

Political insiders in Vancouver say that Economic Development Minister Moe Sihota played a key role in getting a convention to pick a new leader postponed from November to February. Finance Minister Gordon Wilson also joined the demand, insiders say. Sihota and Wilson are contenders for the premier's post.

In recent opinion polls, Ujjal Dosanjh, former editor of a Punjabi weekly and a lumber mill worker, who eventually became the attorney-general of the province, was favored to become the interim premier and guide the New Democratic Party to victory in the polls to be held after a year.

Dan Miller is the current premier following Glen Clark's resignation.

Dosanjh is a high profile politician who is known for his tough stand against crime and his demands for big fund allocation to rehabilitate troubled youth. Though Sihota and Dosanjh are clean-shaven moderate Sikhs, hardliners hate Dosanjh greatly because he is vocally opposed to their politics. A few years ago, a hardliner attacked him with a machete, and eyewitnesses said Dosanjh had a very narrow escape.

By postponing the decision-making process to the new millennium, Dosanjh's supporters believe his political foes are waiting to discredit him and enhance their chances. Dosanjh has not announced his candidacy; he said this week that he would decide in two weeks whether he should contest the party election.

Glen Clark, the British Columbia premier, resigned four weeks ago amidst financial and political scandals.

Though Clark was embroiled in several controversies for many months and his popularity was ebbing, he stepped down only when Dosanjh revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had begun a probe into his alleged financial problems and favoring his backers get licenses for casinos.

Clark's supporters accused Dosanjh of betraying their leader. They said the attorney-general should have waited till the probe result was announced. But several constitutional experts argued that Dosanjh had no alternative under law but to reveal to the public the news and nature of the probe.

Clark's followers have not forgiven Dosanjh for his "betrayal", and they are convinced he acted for personal gain and not in the public interest.

Dosanjh has challenged his detractors to come out in the open and criticize him. But they have not responded yet.

Previous: Earth Picks Up Momentum

Next: Dalai Lama Fan Gives $ 5 m For Asian Art Museum

Tell us what you think of this report