Who is Ruby Dhalla, Indian-Origin Politician And Three-Time MP, In Race To Be Canada PM?

Ruby Dhalla made history in 2004 after she was elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada, becoming the first woman of Indian origin to be elected as an MP. 

Canadian politician Ruby Dhalla has gripped the nation's focus days after the Indian origin leader announced her bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party, which would potentially make her Canada's next Prime Minister.

Ever since she announced her candidacy for the top post, Dhalla has been in the headlines for her strong views on illegal immigration, housing crisis and reforms in Canadian economy to rebuilding the Liberal Party. If elected to power, former MP Dhalla would go on to become Canada's first woman of colour Prime Minister.

The former Brampton MP announced her candidacy on social media, where she said, "Canada's Come Back Starts Now. I will stand up for Canadians & fight for Canada as Canada's Next Prime Minister & Leader of the Liberal Party”.

Here is all you need to know about Ruby Dhalla:

- Ruby Dhalla was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Punjabi immigrant parents. She is also serving as the CEO of the Dhalla Group, which works in the field of "healthcare, real estate, and hospitality" industries.

- Dhalla has been working with the Liberal Party since she was 14. She studied Biochemistry in her undergraduate university and moved on to study political science from the University of Winnipeg. 

- A three-time MP, Dhalla aims to inject fresh energy and perspective into Canadian politics. She made history in 2004 after she was elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada, becoming the first woman of Indian origin to be elected as an MP. 

- The Indian-origin ex-MP represented the now-defunct riding of Brampton-Springdale from 2004 to 2011. 

- Apart from politics, Dhalla also starred in a Bollywood-inspired film "Kyon? Kis Liye?" and was the runner-up in the 1993 Miss India-Canada pageant.

- She was also voted as the third-sexiest female MP in 2008 in a poll conducted by Hill Times and was ranked third in "The World's Hottest Politicians" by Maxim magazine the same year.

- The Canadian leader had first caught media attention at the age of 10 when she wrote a letter to former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi over 'Operation Blue Star'. Gandhi then personally responded to Dhalla and made reference to her letter in a press conference, according to Livemint.

- She faces strong competition from high-profile contenders like Bank of England governor Mark Carney and former minister of finance and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland.

- Ruby Dhalla has a strong opinion over immigration and has promised to deport every illegal immigrant living in Canada if she is elected to power. She also added that she would clamp down on human traffickers. Canada's next prime minister and party leader will be announced on March 9.