Over the weekend, BC Conservative leader John Rustad forced out the second of two South Asian women running in Surrey to make room for his preferred candidates.

Last night, Rustad booted Dupinder Saran from Surrey-Panorama to make room to move over the White Rock candidate, Bryan Tepper.

Jody Toor was earlier bumped from Surrey-Cloverdale to Langley to make room for Elenore Sturko. Rustad moved Toor when it would have made more sense to move Brent Chapman, who is running Sturko’s home riding of Surrey South.

“John Rustad could have dropped Bryan Tepper or Brent Chapman, but forced out two South Asian women instead,” said BC NDP MLA Jinny Sims. “It says a lot about who he’s willing to make space for, and who he isn’t.”

Saran posted to social media about candidates being bullied out by Rustad.

Sims says this shows a pattern of Rustad giving South Asian candidates the short end of the stick.

“South Asian representation in Surrey is important, but John Rustad has twice forced out South Asian candidates in favour of white men,” said Sims. “Why is he only sacrificing the South Asian candidates?”