![Bill Sarai withdraws, leaving Kamal Grewal as NDP candidate for Kamloops Centre](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1605/files/2023/04/bill-sarai.jpg)
Kamloops Councillor Bill Sarai
A shake-up on the Kamloops New Democrat scene ahead of the provincial election this fall.
Self-proclaimed NDP candidate for the newly-formed Kamloops Centre riding, councillor Bill Sarai, has decided to withdraw from the nomination race.
Sarai says he’s made the decision after discussions with his family.
“I think I can do more for this city in the seat I’m at, and be more vocal and more issue-centric being a councillor than towing party lines.”
Sarai first announced his intention to seek the New Democrat nomination in early March.
While Sarai had established his own team, NDP insiders have told Radio NL they were not pleased with his decision to go public with his intentions before the party had a chance to vet his candidacy.
“I don’t know if there’s any animosity or pushback,” said Sarai when asked about the issue. “I know that they would have preferred I got vetted before I put my name forward. I understand that.”
![](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/1605/files/2024/06/kamal-grewal-scaled.jpg)
Kamal Grewal, who will be the NDP candidate in Kamloops Centre/submitted to Radio NL
Sarai’s decision now means former TRU student advisor Kamal Grewal will be the New Democrat candidate in the October election, as Sarai was her only challenger.
She will officially be acclaimed by the party when the NDP riding association holds its nomination meeting for Kamloops Centre on July 13th, according to the Provincial NDP.
Grewal will be up against BC United incumbent MLA Peter Milobar, BC Conservative candidate Dennis Giesbrecht and Randy Sunderman of the BC Green Party.
Meanwhile, there are still no confirmed NDP candidates for the Kamloops North Thompson riding, though party officials tell Radio NL they expect a nomination meeting in late July.
At least one candidate is going through the party’s vetting process for that nomination.
The identity of the candidate has not been revealed.