Who is Chandra Arya, Indian-origin MP who wants to be next Canada PM

Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya has thrown his hat into the ring as the race to become the next Canadian Prime Minister heats up after the resignation of Justin Trudeau.

Arya, who is an MP from Ottawa's Nepean, announced last week that he will run to be the next Canadian PM. The announcement came hours before the Liberal Party said that it will elect a new leader on March 9.

“I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations,” Arya said in a post on X.

I am running for the position of Prime Minister of Canada.Our nation faces structural challenges that require tough solutions.We must make bold political decisions to secure prosperity for our children and grandchildren.I have outlined everything in the statement provided pic.twitter.com/bIdK0RFX18

Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) January 12, 2025

He said that Canada has “significant structural problems” and promised to address them with bold decisions that will shape the future of the country.

Arya added that tough choices are necessary for the sake of future generations, particularly in tackling issues like income inequality and the rising cost of living.

Who is Chandra Arya?

Originally from Karnataka, Arya came to Canada in 2006 after earning his MBA degree.

He has been representing Nepean in Canada's House of Commons since 2015.

Arya, who has a wife and son, worked as an engineer before becoming an investment advisor in a bank.

Before foraying into politics, Arya served as an executive at a small high-tech defence technology company.

Arya has been an outspoken advocate for Canadian Hindus. He has clashed with fellow parliamentarians, including within his own Liberal Party, over issues like India-Canada relations and Khalistani extremism.

In November, he disagreed with Jagmeet Singh over a clash between Sikh separatists and Hindu worshippers in Brampton, with Arya condemning the pro-Khalistan protesters and Singh accusing him of escalating tensions.

He has also been an advocate for a merit-based government.

He expressed his commitment to creating a streamlined and efficient cabinet, saying that his administration would prioritize merit over diversity quotas in selecting cabinet members.

Last year, Arya travelled to India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A statement from Global Affairs Canada at the time said Arya “travelled to India on his own initiative and was not representing the Government of Canada.”

Earlier, Anita Anand, another Indian-origin MP, had briefly joined the race to replace Trudeau in the Liberal Party. However, she later announced that she is dropping out of the race.