Punjabi vs Punjabi in 7 B.C. Ridings as Surrey Heads to Oct 24 Voteਬੀ.ਸੀ. ਚੋਣਾਂ: 7 ਹਲਕਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਆਹਮੋ-ਸਾਹਮਣੇ, ਸਰੀ ਉੱਤਰੀ 'ਚ ਛੇ ਉਮੀਦਵਾਰ

British Columbia votes on 24 October, and in at least seven ridings Punjabi-origin candidates are running against each other, according to the Punjabi daily Ajit. The snap provincial election will fill all 93 seats in the legislature, and Surrey, home to one of Canada's largest Punjabi communities, is where the contest looks most crowded.

Where Punjabi candidates face each other

Ajit's Abbotsford correspondent counts seven ridings where Punjabi candidates are on opposing tickets: two three-cornered races and four straight fights, plus Surrey North. Surrey North is the only riding with six Punjabi candidates. They are Mandeep Singh Dhaliwal (Conservative), Sahib Thind (BC NDP), Parm Bhandol (CentreBC), Yudhbir Gill (BC Green), Tanya Gupta (OneBC) and independent Jag Bhandari, according to the paper and Peace Arch News's candidate list.

Other contests named by Ajit and Connect FM Canada include Surrey-Fleetwood, where former minister Jagrup Brar of the BC NDP faces Conservative Garry Purewal and Paul Brar of CentreBC. In Surrey-Newton, BC NDP's Jessie Sunner takes on Conservative Dr Harj Dhaliwal and CentreBC's Harman Preet Singh. In Surrey-Serpentine River, Conservative Jessy Sahota faces BC NDP's Sikander Kang, a physiotherapist.

Ajit also lists Vancouver-Fraserview, Richmond-Queensborough and Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream among the seven. In Surrey-Panorama, Connect FM notes that Jinny Sims is running for the BC NDP.

What the main parties are doing

The campaign is largely a two-way fight between the BC NDP led by David Eby and the BC Conservatives led by Lorne Doerkson, with Emily Lowan leading the BC Greens. Connect FM reported that both major parties have fielded prominent Punjabi-community candidates in several Surrey ridings. Eby told a rally in Coquitlam on Friday that Conservative promises could leave a 5 billion dollar hole in the provincial budget, Connect FM reported.

Key dates for voters

Elections BC says final voting day is 24 October. Advance voting ran from 16 to 21 October, and 18 October was the last day to request a vote-by-mail package online or by phone. To vote, a person must be a Canadian citizen, aged 18 or older on 24 October, and a B.C. resident since 23 April 2026. The final count is planned for 6 to 10 November.

The vote comes just a week after British Columbia's 17 October local elections, which Peace Arch News said would see Surrey and White Rock voters return to the polls.

Who is running in Surrey Punjabi ridings?

Surrey North has six Punjabi candidates, Surrey-Fleetwood has Jagrup Brar and Garry Purewal among its names, and Surrey-Newton and Surrey-Serpentine River each feature a Punjabi-versus-Punjabi contest between the BC NDP and Conservatives.

When is the British Columbia election?

Final voting day is 24 October 2026. Advance voting ran from 16 to 21 October, according to Elections BC.

How many seats are being contested?

Voters will elect 93 members of the Legislative Assembly, one for each electoral district, Elections BC says.