Darshan Kang

Darshan Kang
MP

Darshan Kang at a Liberal Party of Canada rally for the 2008 federal election.
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Calgary Skyview
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by new district
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-McCall
In office
March 3, 2008 – May 5, 2015
Preceded by Shiraz Shariff
Succeeded by Irfan Sabir
Personal details
Born 1951 (age 64–65)
India
Political party Liberal (also formerly provincial)
Spouse(s) Sharanjit
Residence Chestermere, Alberta
Alma mater University of Indore
Occupation Real estate agent

Darshan Singh Kang (born 1951) is a Canadian politician, currently serving in the Canadian House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He previously served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary-McCall from 2008 to 2015, representing the Alberta Liberal Party. Prior to his political career he was a welder and a real estate agent.[1]

Political career

Provincial politics

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.[2] Shiraz Shariff and the Progressive Conservatives challenged the vote in court claiming that the results of the advanced polling and special ballots was tainted.[3] The challenge was unsuccessful.

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.[4] He remained a provincial MLA until the 2015 provincial election in May 2015, at which point he did not seek reelection and retired.

Federal politics

In June 2014, Kang was acclaimed as the Liberal Party's candidate for the new Calgary Skyview federal riding in the 2015 federal election.[5] He was subsequently elected, defeating serving MP Devinder Shory. He and Kent Hehr are the first federal Liberals elected from Calgary since Pat Mahoney in 1968.[6]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Calgary Skyview
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalDarshan Singh Kang 20,664 – – –
ConservativeDevinder Shory 17,885 – – –
New DemocraticSahajvir Singh 3,605 – – –
Progressive CanadianNajeeb Butt 957 – – –
GreenEd Reddy 851 – – –
Democratic AdvancementStephen Garvey 786 – – –
IndependentJoseph Young 182 – – –
Marxist–LeninistDaniel Blanchard 88 – – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit –100.0   $204,745.54
Total rejected ballots –––
Turnout –––
Eligible voters 71,741
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
Alberta general election, 2012: Calgary-McCall
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalDarshan Kang 3,865 36.69
WildroseGrant Galpin 3,185 30.24
Progressive ConservativeMuhammad Rasheed 3,085 29.29
New DemocraticCollette Singh 227 2.15
EvergreenHeather Brocklesby 137 1.30
IndependentTanveer Taj 35 0.33
Total 10,534
http://www.elections.ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012PGErpt.pdf
Alberta general election, 2008: Calgary-McCall
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalDarshan Kang 4,279 44.38% 4.93%
Progressive ConservativeShiraz Shariff 4,161 43.16% -0.44%
Wildrose AllianceIna Given 542 5.62% -2.24%
GreenHeather Brocklesby 385 3.99% -0.62%
New DemocraticPreet Sihota 275 2.85% -1.63%
9,642
Rejected, Spoiled and Declined 68
Eligible electors / turnout 32,53131.69%
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing 2.69%
The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 230–233. 
Alberta general election, 2004: Calgary-McCall
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
Progressive ConservativeShiraz Shariff 3,195 43.60% -26.55%
LiberalDarshan Kang 2,891 39.45% 17.18%
Alberta AllianceIna Given 576 7.86%
GreenSean Brocklesby 338 4.61%
New DemocraticPreet Sihota 328 4.48% -0.32%
Total 7,328
Rejected, spoiled and declined 86
Eligible electors / Turnout 21,831 33.96%
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -21.87%
"Calgary-McCall Statement of Official Results 2004 Alberta general election" (PDF). Elections Alberta. Retrieved March 3, 2012. 

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. Archived April 28, 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Wood, James (June 4, 2014). "MLA Darshan Kang to Run Federally as Liberal Candidate in Calgary Skyview". Calgary Herald. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "After 47 years, Liberals finally win seat in Calgary", [Calgary Herald], October 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Calgary Skyview, 30 September 2015
  8. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
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