North Delta businessman Amrit Pal Singh Dhot will be running locally for BC United in the upcoming provincial election.

On Thursday (April 11), the party announced Dhot will be taking on current BC NDP MLA and presumptive candidate Ravi Kahlon in Delta North. Kahlon has not yet stated whether he plans to run for a third term in office.

Dhot is the founder of the Dhot Group, a North Delta-based company offering services in a variety of sectors, including real estate, consulting, finance, security, warehousing, wholesale and distribution, media and sales.

鈥淚 am dedicated to leveraging my experience in the business and financial sectors to drive positive change and get real results for the people of Delta North,鈥� Dhot said in a BC United press release.

鈥淚鈥檝e heard loud and clear from residents that they are concerned about the NDP鈥檚 failure to address the rising cost-of-living crisis and the mounting public safety crisis in our community. I am committed to addressing these issues by delivering real solutions for our community.鈥�

According to a bio posted to the BC United website, Dhot was born in Punjab and has called Canada home since 2008, when he began his work as a leader in the banking sector. When the global recession hit that same year, he channeled his diverse skill set into founding his own company, and the Dhot Group has flourished since.

He and his wife have raised their two children in Delta, where they live alongside his parents.

Dhot is described as an active member of his community who volunteers with the Delta District Parents Advisory Council and Scouts Canada, and is dedicated to helping new Canadian immigrants land on their feet through his volunteer work with Door To Group.

His bio notes the arts are among Dhot鈥檚 passions, particularly Bollywood and Pollywood, and through his work with the Dhot Group he has brought talents from both those sectors to the community for shows and 鈥渃ultural enrichment.鈥�

鈥淎mrit Dhot鈥檚 entrepreneurial business spirit and experience will be an important asset for a BC United-led government, and I am thrilled by his candidacy,鈥� BC United leader Kevin Falcon said in a press release.

鈥淎s we gear up for the next election, we have full assurance that Amrit will emerge as influential advocate for [his] communities, championing positive change and progress on crucial issues such as the cost of living, public safety and the challenges facing our health-care system.鈥�

In late January, Delta South MLA Ian Paton announced he would under the BC United banner.

鈥淩epresenting the constituents in Delta South since 2017 has been an honour, but there is more work to be done,鈥� he said in a press release.

To date, neither the BC NDP, BC Green Party or Conservative Party of B.C. have announced candidates in Delta North or Delta South.

The next provincial election is on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Candidate nominations close at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.