Mississauga : Dr. Keshav Mandadi, a former Conservative Party nomination hopeful for the Mississauga East–Cooksville riding, has leveled explosive allegations against the party and several of its prominent figures, accusing them of undemocratic candidate selection processes, financial impropriety, and disrespect toward the Hindu community. In an exclusive interview with the media, Dr. Mandadi detailed his claims, asserting that he spent over $100,000 in pursuit of the nomination, only to be sidelined in what he describes as a rigged and opaque process.
Dr. Mandadi alleges that the Conservative Party’s announcement of Nita Kang as the candidate for Mississauga East–Cooksville was made without a fair or transparent contest, effectively shutting out other contenders like himself. “They didn’t even give us a democratic process,” Mandadi said. “This kind of unfair treatment is totally unacceptable.” He further accused the party of insulting Hindus, though he did not elaborate on specific incidents, suggesting a broader pattern of cultural insensitivity within the party’s actions.
The financial aspect of Mandadi’s allegations has raised eyebrows. He claims to have personally contributed significant sums as “election funds” to key party figures, including $10,000 to Mohammed Ishaq, the Conservative candidate for Mississauga Centre, and $20,000 to Arpan Khanna, the MP for Oxford. According to Mandadi, these payments were facilitated through an intermediary, Tom Varghese,former Conservative candidate for Mississauga–Malton. Mandadi alleges that Varghese played a central role in collecting money from multiple nomination candidates in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), promising them seats in exchange for their financial support.
“The most shocking part is that this intermediary collected money from different candidates in the same riding, assuring each of us a chance at the nomination,” Mandadi explained. “It was a scheme to extract funds, and I believe it goes right up to the party leadership.”
Mandadi’s accusations extend beyond his own riding, as he claims the Conservative Party predetermined candidates across multiple GTA seats in an undemocratic fashion, bypassing traditional nomination contests. He pointed to a network of party insiders—including Ishaq, Khanna, and Varghese—as orchestrating these efforts, allegedly under the direction of higher-ranking officials.
Determined to seek justice, Dr. Mandadi vowed to hold those responsible accountable. “Those who took money from me under false pretenses and those who acted as intermediaries will be brought before the law,” he declared. He has not yet specified whether he intends to pursue legal action or report the matter to authorities, but his statements suggest a brewing storm for the Conservative Party as it prepares for upcoming elections.
The allegations come at a sensitive time for the party, which has been positioning itself as a strong contender in the GTA, a region known for its diverse electorate and competitive ridings. Neither the Conservative Party nor the named individuals—Ishaq, Khanna, or Varghese—have issued public responses to Mandadi’s claims as of this report’s publication. The party’s silence has only fueled speculation about the veracity of the accusations and their potential impact on its reputation.
Dr. Mandadi, a PhD holder with a platform centered on public safety, affordability, and family values, said he initially saw the Conservative Party as a natural fit for his aspirations to serve the community. “They told me I was the star candidate,” he recounted. “But now I see it was all a ploy to exploit my trust and resources.”
As this story unfolds, questions linger about transparency and integrity within the Conservative Party’s nomination processes. For Dr. Mandadi and his supporters, the fight is not just about a lost candidacy—it’s about exposing what they see as a betrayal of democratic principles and the public’s trust. Whether these allegations will lead to formal investigations or internal reforms remains to be seen, but they have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the party’s operations in one of Canada’s most politically significant regions.
