Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Kurban Nenshi has become the leader of the New Democratic Party NDP) leader of Alberta and is not the leader of the official opposition in the province. He was the 36th mayor of Calgary, Alberta, serving from 2010 to 2021.
“I’m truly humbled and honoured to lead the Alberta NDP into its next era,” said Nenshi after getting 86% of vote NDP membership across Alberta to win the leadership.
Nenshi who is of Indian origin was elected in the 2010 municipal election with 39% of the vote, and is the first Muslim mayor of a large North American city. He was re-elected in 2013 with 74% of the vote and again re-elected in 2017 to a third term with 51% of the vote. After serving three terms as mayor, he did not seek re-election in the 2021 Calgary municipal election, and was succeeded by Jyoti Gondek who is also of Indian Origin. Jagmeet Singh, also of Indian origin is the leader of the federal NDP and Mayor of Edmonton, which the capital of Alberta, Amarjeet Sohi is also of Indian origin.
The NDP has a significant base support in Edmonton. Nenshi’s popularity in Calgary, Alberta’s second largest city could help become the Premier of Alberta.