The investigation found that Appadurai, 32, broke campaign rules by improperly coordinating with third parties to encourage more people to register with the party by Sept. 4 to vote in the leadership race. “Because no other remedy can adequately address the failures and violations of the Appadurai campaign in this leadership election, the CEO has come to the difficult conclusion that Ms. Appadurai must be disqualified as a candidate,” the report, written by BC NDP Chief Electoral Officer Elizabeth Cull and leaked on Tuesday. “Improper coordination … played such a significant role in the Appadurai campaign that it is impossible to level the playing field at this point, and therefore impossible to restore the leadership campaign to a state of integrity in which I could have confidence. “ Appadurai’s disqualification would leave former attorney-general and housing minister David Abbey as the only suitable candidate to succeed Prime Minister John Horgan, who is due to step down on December 3. Appadurai, on stage, speaks to reporters in Vancouver on Wednesday. Appadurai has maintained that her campaign follows the rules of the leadership race and has been treated unfairly during the process. (Ben Nelms/CBC) The party decision on Apandurai’s nomination is expected after the meeting on Wednesday night. Appadurai said she expects to be thrown out of the race — calling it a sign the party is trying to “control a situation” where she had far more supporters than Eby, who has the support of most NDP cabinet members. “It was the politics of the campaign — not the process, personnel or tactics — that attracted the number of members it did,” he wrote in a series of tweets. “I believe my campaign was treated unfairly from the beginning. I also want to be clear that we followed the rules, acted with integrity and tried to make this a contest of ideas. “It’s in all of our interests — to allow members to decide the next leader.” Appadurai, 32, during her press conference on Wednesday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
Officials investigated several complaints
Elections BC and the NDP both began investigating Appadurai’s campaign after receiving complaints that Dogwood BC’s involvement amounted to a prohibited political contribution. Dogwood is an environmental group dedicated to getting voters more involved in politics. Officials were also looking into allegations that an Appadurai supporter offered to pay for $10 NDP subscriptions and that the campaign encouraged BC Green members to temporarily leave their party to join the NDP and vote for Appadurai. The report found Dogwood used email, paid advertising and phone banking in an effort to recruit supporters to the NDP in time to vote. It also reported that Appadurai told supporters on an Aug. 6 Zoom call that the organizations would help her sign up hundreds of new members, with a goal of 1,000 new signups in less than two days. As a solution to the “inappropriate” membership bloat, Cull considered barring new members who signed up after the August 6 meeting from voting. He decided against it after deciding that the move would also exclude properly registered voters. “This potential solution does not address the CEO’s serious concerns about Ms. Appadurai’s failure to take any responsibility for violations committed in connection with her campaign and her disturbingly indifferent attitude toward her responsibilities as a leadership candidate,” Cull said.
Appadurai campaign starts petition
In response to the report, Appadurai’s campaign launched a petition — Let Her Run — calling on the NDP to let party members choose its leader, not the executive, or risk “making a mockery of the ‘Democrat’ in the NDP.” The complaints to the NDP in August included an official one from Eby’s campaign, the report said. Appadurai, a former federal NDP candidate and longtime activist, launched her campaign that month with a focus on addressing environmental and human rights. In an interview with the Canadian Press, she said she did not have details on the exact number of new NDP members her campaign secured, but said she had heard it could be as many as 14,000.
The issue could end up in court, the expert says
Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, said he was shocked by the report’s recommendation despite the seriousness of the allegations. “I’m a little surprised that they’ve decided to impose the maximum penalty here — which is to kick her out of the race — rather than come up with some lesser penalties, like a membership disqualification, a fine on her campaign or maybe something else,” Telford said. he said during an interview with CBC’s The Early Edition on Wednesday. “There will be questions here about due process … did Ms. Appadurai have an opportunity to really defend herself? Was due process followed? What was the vetting methodology that led to the conclusion that there were many fraudulent new members in the party?” “If Ms. Appadurai’s legal team finds that there were problems with the process that was followed … then I think we could possibly see this going to court.” When asked if Appadurai planned to take legal action or file an injunction, the media relations coordinator told CBC “we have no comment on future actions that Anjali or the campaign will take.” LISTEN | Political science professor examines report recommending Appadurai’s ouster: The Early Edition6:32 Political Scientist reacts to the upcoming vote to disqualify Anjali Appadurai The BC NDP will vote tonight on whether or not to expel Anjali Appadurai after the climate activist and leadership hopeful allegedly engaged in “serious misconduct.” We hear from political science professor Hamish Telford to get his reaction.
