Chandra Arya

Chandrakanth "Chandra" Arya
Born	1963 Dwarlu village, Sira Taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka, India
Occupation(s)	Politician, former banker, engineer
Years active	2015–2025 (political career)
Known for	Member of Parliament for Nepean (2015–2025), Liberal Party leadership candidate (2025)

Chandrakanth "Chandra" Arya (born 1963) is an Indian-Canadian political figure who represented the electoral district of Nepean, Ontario, in the Canadian House of Commons from 2015 until 2025. Affiliated with the Liberal Party, he unsuccessfully contested the party leadership in the 2025 Liberal leadership contest.

Education and background

Originating from Dwarlu village in Sira Taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka, India, Arya completed his MBA at the Kousali Institute of Management Studies in Dharwad, which is part of Karnataka University. After relocating to Canada in 2006, he took on the role of chairman for the Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber before entering the political arena.

Political career (2015–2025)

Arya secured election as the Member of Parliament for Nepean during the 2015 federal election and successfully retained his seat in both the 2019 and 2021 elections. His parliamentary work included participation on the Standing Committee on International Trade.

In the 2021 election cycle, Arya was criticized by the Ottawa Punjabi Association for not opposing agricultural reforms implemented by the Indian government. In 2022, he made history as the first MP to deliver a speech in Kannada within the House of Commons. Arya attributed acts of vandalism against Hindu temples in Toronto to "Khalistani extremists."

On April 14, 2023, Arya sponsored petition e-4395, which called on the Liberal government to revisit a "foreign influence transparency registry," aligning with concerns raised by petitioners. While Prime Minister Trudeau endorsed the concept of such a registry, he emphasized prudence in its execution.

Following accusations regarding Indian government involvement in the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Arya remarked that Hindu Canadians felt "fearful" due to supporters of Sikh separatism. To avoid potential misrepresentation, he declined interviews with certain media outlets. In 2024, Arya independently traveled to India where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Global Affairs Canada clarified that this visit was not an official Canadian government mission.

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, Arya entered the race for leadership in the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election. Despite lacking fluency in French, he minimized its significance for Francophone voters. However, on January 26, 2025, party officials declared him "manifestly unfit" and disqualified him from candidacy.

On March 20, 2025, Arya’s nomination for the upcoming federal election was rescinded by the Liberal Party. Two days later, former banker Mark Carney was named as the new Liberal nominee for Nepean. Arya suggested his removal stemmed from his vocal support for Hindu Canadians and opposition to alleged Khalistani extremist activities but opted not to challenge the decision further.

According to reports from the Globe and Mail, concerns about foreign interference influenced Arya’s removal after alleged briefings from Canadian Security Intelligence Service highlighted his close connections with both the Indian government and High Commission. His unauthorized trip to India and meeting with Prime Minister Modi were factors that heightened these apprehensions.

Career after Parliament

On May 8, 2025, Arya established the Hindu Public Affairs Council of Canada (Canada HPAC) with the goal of advocating for the interests of Hindu-Canadians. He clarified that Canada HPAC would rely on donations from individuals rather than functioning as a registered charity, focusing primarily on countering anti-Hindu bias and tackling issues related to the Khalistan movement. Arya also conveyed confidence in the potential for enhanced Indo-Canadian relations under the leadership of Prime Minister Carney.

Political viewpoints

Arya supports the elimination of the monarchy and champions a "smaller, more streamlined government." He opposes mandates tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion quotas. Among his proposals are imposing taxes on citizens living abroad, removing carbon pricing policies, and officially recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state. Arya advocates for laws that would criminalize public endorsement of terrorism and extremism, seeks to elevate Canada’s status as an "energy superpower," and critiques Trudeau’s immigration approach for fostering dependence on "inexpensive foreign labour."

French language

During his bid for party leadership in 2025, Arya contended that proficiency in French should not be a prerequisite for heading Canada, prioritizing competent governance over bilingual requirements. This viewpoint attracted substantial backlash from within the Liberal Party and played a role in his eventual disqualification from the leadership contest.

Ethics investigation

In 2016, Arya was subject to an ethics review after distributing either Amazon Kindles or $500 awards to 26 students in recognition of their perseverance. He defended his actions by explaining that these prizes were financed by the Nepean Liberal Riding Association and denied breaching any conflict of interest regulations set by the House of Commons.

Email controversy

In 2021, Arya issued an apology following an incident where a member of his staff mistakenly sent confidential information concerning 900 constituents to personnel affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC). The CPC directed their employees to delete the email promptly, and due to Canadian privacy legislation, Arya did not face any formal penalties.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh flag

In November 2022, Arya successfully passed a private member’s bill designating November as Hindu Heritage Month. To commemorate this occasion, he raised a flag on Parliament Hill that some academics from Université du Québec à Montréal and organizations such as Hindus for Human Rights alleged symbolized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group. Arya responded by asserting that the flag represented Hindu religious identity rather than any political entity. In September 2024, Canadian news outlet The Breach accused Arya of endorsing initiatives connected to Hindu far-right movements.

Expenditure on taxpayer-funded gifts

A February 2023 report by Global News revealed that between July 2020 and September 2022, Arya led parliamentary colleagues in spending on "protocol" gifts by acquiring 1,025 plaques at a total cost of $21,931 using public funds. These plaques were procured exclusively through SINIX Media Group, which secured fifty-three contracts worth $53,681.50 from Arya’s constituency office during this timeframe. While Arya stated these plaques were intended for constituents, he declined to comment on any association with the company’s chief executive officer.

Opposition to Liberal Motion

In March 2024, Arya reached out via email to fellow parliamentarians, urging them to resist the motion M112 introduced by Liberal caucus member Sukh Dhaliwal, titled "Political Interference, Violence, or Intimidation on Canadian Soil." Arya argued that the motion could negatively impact Canada–India relations. Dhaliwal defended the initiative, stating its purpose was to safeguard all Canadians from foreign meddling. Although some MPs abstained from voting, the motion ultimately passed with unanimous approval.

Controversy Over Kaali Film Poster

In 2022, filmmaker Leena Manimekalai encountered criticism for a promotional poster of her movie Kaali, which portrayed the Hindu deity Kali smoking and holding a rainbow flag. Arya publicly denounced the poster on Twitter, associating it with attacks on Hindu temples. In response, Manimekalai accused Arya of endorsing threats directed at her. Additionally, more than one hundred scholars and activists sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau condemning Arya's statements.

Opposition Regarding 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots

In December 2024, Arya stood as the only Liberal MP opposing a motion that recognized the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India as an act of genocide. His position sparked criticism from Sikh parliamentarians such as Sukh Dhaliwal and Jagmeet Singh, as well as from members of the wider Sikh community. Following the backlash, Arya reported receiving threats and cautioned that a “Khalistani lobby” might attempt to bring the motion back for consideration.

Foreign Interference Issues

In March 2025, the Liberal Party of Canada withdrew Chandra Arya's nomination for the Nepean electoral district in the upcoming federal election. This occurred after his earlier disqualification from the party leadership contest in January. These decisions were connected to concerns over foreign interference, particularly regarding Arya’s unauthorized visit to India in August 2024, during which he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid strained Canada-India relations. Party officials pointed to "concerning inconsistencies" in Arya’s answers on a confidential questionnaire. Arya maintained that he was not obligated to obtain government permission for such meetings. Following these developments, Prime Minister Mark Carney declared his intention to run for the Nepean seat.

References

Election Night Results – Electoral Districts