Langley-Abbotsford MLA Harman Bhangu said he will likely run for leadership of the B.C. Conservatives in the wake of John Rustad stepping down from the role.
Bhangu said that over the holidays he has been meeting with friends, family, and people from across the province, and that his family is supportive of him running for leader.
“I am strongly considering it, and I’m pretty sure I will be,” he said.
The party has been led by interim leader Trevor Halford since Rustad resigned on Dec. 4, following a dramatic confrontation with his own MLAs. Out of the 39 caucus members, 20 had called for him to step down.
Bhangu had earlier said that he would not run if his friend, Conservative MP Aaron Gunn, chose to run for the position, but just before Christmas Gunn ruled out leaving federal politics right now.
Bhangu worked in the trucking industry and has served as the B.C. Conservatives critic for transportation.
If he runs, he said he will be focused on economic issues.
“We need to get the entrepreneurial spirit going again,” Bhangu said, mentioning issues such as the industrial carbon tax, cost of living issues, and young people leaving B.C. to find jobs elsewhere.
Asked if he would reach out to the five former Conservative MLAs who left the party or were ejected under Rustad, Bhangu said he would talk to them.
“I think Elenore [Sturko] is great at what she does,” he said.
Bhangu said he would see where it was possible to mend fences.
If he becomes leader, Bhangu said he would be prepared for a possible snap election triggered by the governing NDP in 2026.
He said he has a good support for the fundraising the party would need for another election contest.
A final decision on running will wait until he sees the rules for a leadership race, which he expects sometime in mid-January.
“I know going in there will be a spotlight, are the memberships real or fake,” Bhangu said, referring to the attempt to create fake party members during the last leadership contest.