All-Asian poll for Southall

Ealing Southall

VOTERS IN SOUTHALL look set for an all-Asian ballot paper in a byelection following the death of MP Piara Khabra.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have both picked Asians to contest the seat on July 19th.

Labour have yet to choose their candidate but all eyes are on Ealing councillor Sonika Nirwal who will be the favourite to enter the Commons.



If successful she will make history as the first Asian woman MP.
Tory candidate Tony Lit has already been out campaigning with party leader David Cameron, while the Lib Dems today announced Nigel Bakhai as their man.

Lit runs Southall-based Sunrise Radio and his father, Dr Avtar Lit, previously ran as an independent candidate against Khabra.

Menzies Campbell is hoping the choice of Bakhai will calm the row sparked by an all-white Lib Dem slate for next years’ London Assembly elections.

Campbell will need to hold second spot and close the gap on Labour’s 11,440 majority to avoid further unrest in Lib Dem ranks.

Bakhai is expected to face a tough challenge from Lit, a family man with three young children and a former director of Southall football club. Cameron said Lit was an “outstanding” candidate.

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