Indian-origin Anita Anand drops out of Canada PM race: Will not seek re-election

Anita Anand, who had emerged as a frontrunner to be Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's successor, said that she wouldn't seek re-election as an MP for Oakville, Ontario and would be returning to academia.

In Short

• Anita Anand confirms she will not seek re-election as Oakville MP
• Anand, a Yale University professor, says she will return to academia
• Expresses gratitude to Justin Trudeau for welcoming her to 'Liberal team'

Anita Anand, the Indian-origin Transport Minister of Canada, has dropped out of the race to replace Justin Trudeau as the next Prime Minister.

Taking to X, Anand released a statement announcing her decision, which came just days after Trudeau said that he was resigning as the Prime Minister and chief of the ruling Liberal Party. Anand also confirmed that she would not seek re-election as MP from Oakville, Ontario.

In her statement, she thanked the outgoing Canadian Prime Minister for welcoming her "to the Liberal team as a Member of Parliament" and for giving her key "cabinet portfolios".

Anand also thanked the people of Oakville for electing her to Canada's House of Commons and for "being such a wonderful, welcoming community ".

"I sincerely thank Prime Minister Trudeau for welcoming me to the Liberal team as a Member of Parliament and for entrusting me with key cabinet portfolios. I am truly grateful to the people of Oakville for selecting me to represent them in Canada's House of Commons and for being such a wonderful, welcoming community where my husband and I raised our four children over the past twenty years," she said in her statement.

In her statement, Anand also highlighted that she will continue to discharge her role as an MP until the next elections.

"I will continue to honourably execute my roles as a public office holder until the next election," she said.

Born to a Tamil father and a Punjabi mother, the 57-year-old Anand has held several portfolios in Trudeau's cabinet. Since she was inducted into Trudeau's cabinet. Anand has handled key ministries like Public Services and Procurement and Defence. She was also made the President of the Treasury Board in 2024.

Before entering politics in 2019, Anand practised law and taught at universities. She was a visiting lecturer at Yale University and a law professor at the University of Toronto.

Speaking of her roots, Anand said that many had written her off, saying that someone of Indian descent cannot win Oakville. "Yet Oakville has rallied behind me not once but twice since 2019, an honour that I will hold in my heart forever," she said.

Her parents, who were both doctors, immigrated to Canada. Anand's grandfather was a freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu.