'Resign by Oct 28', Liberal MPs tell Justin Trudeau amid Canada’s feud with India

At a time when his government is engaged in a bitter spat with India, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing intense opposition from his own party colleagues with several Liberal lawmakers demanding him not to seek a fourth term.

According to reports, the lawmakers who blame Trudeau for the party’s poor results in the poll and declining popularity want him to take a call on his future October 28.

20 plus Liberal MPs sign letter against Trudeau

Reports say 20 Liberal MPs have given the deadline to Trudeau in a signed letter.

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The Canadian Broadcasting Corp pegs the number of signatories at 24. The House of Commons has a total of 153 MPs.

The letter was reportedly read out to Trudeau during the caucus meeting of the Liberals on Wednesday.

Trudeau, however, is determined to run for a fourth term in elections likely to be held by the end of October 2025.

The Canadian prime minister after holding a meeting with members of his party said the Liberals are “strong and united” and the deadline issued by the 20 other MPs tells a different story, AP reported.

“He has to start listening, listening to people,” Ken McDonald, a Liberal MP from Newfoundland, who claimed of being one of the MPs opposing Trudeau, told AP.

Liberal Party declining fortunes make MPs jittery

Public opinion surveys, however, indicate that the party faces a defeat against the Conservatives if Trudeau were to run.

According to a recent poll by Nanos Research, Conservatives currently enjoy a public support of 39 per cent, followed by Liberals at 23 per cent and the New Democrats at 21 per cent.

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McDonald said the sinking popularity of the Liberals has made several of his colleagues jittery ahead of the polls.

"There is what would you call some palace drama going on right now. And that takes us away from the number one job, which is focusing on Canadians," AP quoted Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault, a Liberal Party member, as saying.

"It’s the decision of the leader of the party as to whether he stays on as leader," said Ontario Liberal lawmaker Yvan Baker said, as reported by AP.

Wayne Long, another MP said there is hope for the party if it fields a new face instead of Trudeau.

What this means for Trudeau

Despite the warnings, Trudeau cannot be forced to quit office as there is no such mechanism to oust him. In Canada, leaders are elected not by MPs but by members at a special convention.

In other words, the decision on whether to quit or not rests with Trudeau alone.

He is yet to sign the letter sent by the dissident MPs.