BC Liberal MLA-elect Elenore Sturko in a statement on Thursday on the allegations surrounding the BC NDP’s leadership contest said: “It is incredibly disheartening to see [NDP leadership hopeful] Anjali Appadurai being subjected to backroom politicking and a bullying campaign by [NDP leadership hopeful] David Eby and his old boys’ network in the NDP.”
Sturko added: “It has been obvious for weeks now that David Eby and the party elite have already decided to force her out of the race.
“Not unlike Anita McPhee — who was disqualified from running for the NDP as a woman of colour to allow the hand-picked and equity mandate-violating Nathan Cullen to run — history is about to be repeated with the coronation of David Eby.”
She pointed out: “David Eby himself said he was ‘frustrated’ by being challenged — clearly, his entire campaign relied on backroom deals to prevent any real competition.”
Sturko said: “As someone new to politics, I can attest to how difficult it is for women to put their name forward — particularly as a woman from a minority community.
“While the NDP’s 57-seat caucus sits back and watches this happen without speaking up, I know the importance of allyship and speaking up when you see something wrong.”
