Darshan Kang

Darshan Kang
Darshan Kang at a Liberal Party of Canada rally for the 2008 federal election.
MLA for Calgary-McCall
Incumbent
Assumed office
2008
Preceded by Shiraz Shariff
Personal details
Born 1951 (age 6364)
India[1]
Political party Liberal
Occupation Real Estate Agent

Darshan Singh Kang (born 1951) is a current provincial level politician and serves as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-McCall. Prior to his political career he was a welder and a real estate agent.[2]

Political career

Kang ran for office for the first time in Calgary-McCall in the 2004 Alberta general election He was defeated in a hotly contested race by incumbent Shiraz Shariff.

Darshan Kang (third from right) attends a news conference with Kevin Taft (third from left) in Calgary, as part of the 2008 provincial election campaign.

Kang won his second bid for office in the 2008 Alberta general election. The election was a virtual rematch of 2004 with all candidates being the same. Kang defeated Shariff by 98 votes after returns in the advanced polls showed he had won overwhelming victories. Kang's numbers increased upon the official recount to 118 votes.[3] Shiraz Shariff and the Progressive Conservatives have challenged the vote in court claiming that the results of the advanced polling and special ballots was tainted.[4] The challenge was not successful.

In the 2012 provincial election, Kang was initially declared to have been defeated by Wildrose candidate Grant Galpin, but was later declared re-elected after all polling stations, special ballots and advance polls were counted.[5]

In June 2014, Kang was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate for the new Calgary Skyview federal riding. He intends to remain a provincial MLA until the next federal election, expected in October 2015.[6]

Election results

2012 general election

2012 Alberta general election results[7] Turnout 48.5%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Liberal Darshan Kang 3,854 36.5%
     Wildrose Grant D. Galpin 3,183 30.2%
     Progressive Conservative Muhammad Rasheed 3,093 29.3%
     NDP Colette Marie Singh 226 2.1%
EvergreenHeather Brocklesby 144 1.4%
     Independent Tanveer Taj 46 0.4%
Total 10,546 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined
21,761 Eligible Electors

2008 general election

2008 Alberta general election results[8] Turnout 31.6%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Liberal Darshan Kang 4,279 44.4%
     Progressive Conservative Shiraz Shariff 4,161 43.2%
     Wildrose Alliance Ina Given 542 5.6%
GreensSean Brocklesby 385 4.00%
     NDP Preet Sihota 275 2.9%
Total 9,642 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 68
30,669 Names on List of Electors

2004 general election

2004 Alberta general election results[9] Turnout 33.96%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative Shiraz Shariff 3,195 43.60%
     Liberal Darshan Kang 2,891 39.45%
     Alberta Alliance Ina Given 576 7.86%
GreensSean Brocklesby 338 4.61%
     NDP Preet Sihota 328 4.48%
Total 7,328 100%
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 86
21,831 Eligible Electors

References

  1. http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/provincial-election-map/index.html
  2. Renata D'Aliesio (March 8, 2008). "It's official: Liberal wins cliffhanger in McCall". Calgary Herald.
  3. "Defeated Calgary-McCall candidate claims election tainted". CBC News. March 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  4. "Liberal incumbent wins tight race in Calgary-McCall". Calgary Herald, April 24, 2012.
  5. Wood, James. "MLA Darshan Kang to Run Federally as Liberal Candidate in Calgary Skyview." Calgary Herald 4 June 2014. Web. 15 Aug. 2014. <http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Darshan+Kang+federally+Liberal+candidate+Calgary+Skyview/9906863/story.html>.
  6. "Calgary-McCall Unofficial Results 2012 Alberta general election". Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  7. "Calgary-McCall Statement of Official Results 2008 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2011-01-26.
  8. "Calgary-McCall Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
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