WINNIPEG — Manitoba Liberal Party leader Rana Bokhari will step down, according to a news release sent by the party to media on Saturday.
Bokhari said in the statement, “I believe the time is right to transition the party to a new leader who will be able to benefit from a strong, united party.” She added “I have informed the Manitoba Liberal Party Executive that I will not be leading the MLP into the next election.”
She will remain as interim leader until a new leader is chosen via internal processes of the party. This decision reverses one the party made of Bokhari staying on after a post-election member’s meeting in late April.
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Bokhari had a mixed provincial election campaign; she failed to win a seat in her riding of Fort Rouge, multiple candidates dropped out prior to election day for a number of past controversial comments and in one case, an assault charge. The party picked up three seats, which marked an improvement from 2011’s results, but failed to secure official party status.
“Twice as many people voted Liberal in 2016 as did in 2011, delivering us three seats for the first time in 20 years,” Bokhari said, defending her record.
She announced in her statement that she will resume her job as a lawyer and said she will be working closely with the party as they transition under new leadership.
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