Punjabi Market leader to run for NPA?

Punjabi Market Association president Daljit Sidhu this week said he was thinking about running for city council with the Non-Partisan Association.

"There are some discussions going on," Sidhu said in an interview this week. "I'm consulting with people and to see how my friends, if they can support me. The possibility is there."

Sidhu said he was still being vetted by the NPA board, which this week approved one potential candidate and slammed the door on another.

If he decides to run, Sidhu would become one of two high-profile South Asian candidates to seek office in this election, with Ross Street Temple head Kashmir Dhaliwal having previously announced he'll run with Vision Vancouver.

It wasn't that long ago that Sidhu ran with the NPA and lost, despite the fact his party had taken nine of ten seats. Some have questioned why South Asian candidates have had difficulty getting elected at the civic level.

But Sidhu said times have changed.

"I think the climate and political landscape of Vancouver has totally changed and Vancouver has changed quite a bit," he said. "People look at the broader aspect of different backgrounds."