Naresh Bhardwaj

Nareshindra Bhardwaj (born 1959) is a Canadian politician, who was elected in the 2008 provincial election to represent the electoral district of Edmonton-Ellerslie in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. He is a member of the Progressive Conservatives.[2] and was Associate Minister of Persons with Disabilities in the cabinet of Jim Prentice.

Naresh Bhardwaj
Bhardwaj at the 2013 Tour of Alberta
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Ellerslie
In office March 3, 2008 – May 5, 2015
Preceded by	Bharat Agnihotri
Succeeded by	Rod Loyola
Personal details
Born	1959 (age 61–62)[1]
Political party	Progressive Conservative

Bhardwaj ran 2012 provincial election as an incumbent PC candidate, winning a second term on April 23, 2012. He did not run in the 2015 general election.

He was made Associate Minister of Persons with disabilities in 2013.[3]

Controversy

Bhardwaj has been accused of offering a $10,000 bribe to prevent other candidates from challenging him in an election. Rachel Notley, leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party, requested that Bhardwaj step down and submit to an investigation.[4] Although cleared by an internal PC party investigation, Bhardwaj remained the subject of a criminal investigation.[5] In March 2015 he withdrew his name as a candidate for the May 5, 2015 general election.[6]

Electoral history

2008 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Ellerslie
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Naresh Bhardwaj	4,581	41.90%	10.07%
	Liberal	Bharat Agnihotri	3,592	32.86%	−0.94%
	New Democratic	Marilyn Assheton-Smith	1,891	17.30%	−4.85%
	Wildrose Alliance	Krista Leddy	471	4.31%	−5.59%
	Green	Paul Boos	335	3.06%
	Social Credit	Cheryl Ullah	62	0.57%	−1.75%
Total			10,932
Rejected, spoiled and declined			81
Eligible electors / Turnout			31,317	35.17%
	Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal		Swing		5.51%
Source: The Report on the March 3, 2008 Provincial General Election of the Twenty-seventh Legislative Assembly. Elections Alberta. July 28, 2008. pp. 290–293.

2012 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Ellerslie
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive Conservative	Naresh Bhardwaj	5,677	42.97	+1.07
	Wildrose	Jackie Lovely	3,258	24.66	+20.35
	New Democratic	Rod Loyola	2,114	16.00	-1.30
	Liberal	Jennifer Ketsa	1,504	11.38	-21.48
	Alberta Party	Chinwe Okelu	523	3.96
	Independent	Athena Bernal-Born	137	1.04
Total valid votes			13,213	98.83
Rejected, spoiled, and declined			157	1.17
Turnout			13,370	50.04	+14.87
Registered electors			26,721
	Progressive Conservative hold		Swing		-9.64
Source(s) Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results: Edmonton-Ellerslie". Retrieved August 29, 2018.

References

1. "Ellerslie". The Edmonton Journal. February 28, 2008. Retrieved September 4, 2013. 54, teacher (his age and occupation)
2. "Biography for Mr. Naresh Bhardwaj". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
3. "Alberta Cabinet swearing-in ceremony - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
4. Kleiss, Karen (March 13, 2015). "Alberta government minister accused of offering $10,000 bribe should 'step aside,' NDP leader says". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
5. Rusnell, Charles, Jennie. "LuAnne Sirdiak abruptly leaves Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council". CBC News.
6. "MLA Naresh Bhardwaj won't run while bribery allegations unresolved". CBC News. March 23, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.