Incumbent Edmonton-Ellerslie MLA Naresh Bhardwaj has left cabinet while the Conservative party investigates allegations of attempts to undermine another candidate’s nomination campaign, said Alberta Premier Jim Prentice.
“While these allegations remain unproven, they must be treated seriously,” Prentice said in a news release.
Prentice said he spoke with Bhardwaj, the associate minister for persons with disabilities, earlier today and “he indicated his desire to step away from his role as Associate Minister while he works to clear his name.” Bhardwaj will remain in caucus until the internal investigation is completed.
Bhardwaj has not responded to interview requests from CBC News.
In his release, Prentice also said he has been told Bhardwaj is now suing the person who made a criminal allegation against him.
As first reported by Metro newspapers earlier this week, party member Balbir Sidhu publicly accused Bhardwaj of offering him, through another person, a $10,000 bribe in return for recanting his official support for candidate Balraj Manhas.
Metro reported that Manhas was called a few days before the nomination ballot and told by constituency representatives that if he did not withdraw he would be publicly disqualified because nomination papers were invalid.
Two of Manhas’ supporters, including Sidhu, swore affidavits, obtained by Metro, which claim Bhardwaj, or others acting for him, asked them to sign prepared affidavits stating their names had improperly appeared on Manhas’ nomination form. Each candidate must have 25 signed sponsors.
Metro reported that Bilal Ali swore an affidavit in which he claimed his family was approached by three men, including Bhardwaj, and told to sign a document which he believed was to confirm their support for Manhas. Ali told Metro he later realized the document was used to disqualify Manhas from the race.
Conservative party executive director Kelley Charlebois has publicly confirmed the allegations are under investigation.
