The Hindu Temple in Burnaby was making plans to celebrate the yearly Diwali holiday this year after COVID forced its cancellation last year but had second thoughts after a rise in cases across some parts of the province.
Despite the challenge from upstart Rakesh Nayyar and his Time For Change slate, the election on Sunday to control the VHP Hindu Temple in Burnaby saw the slate led by Rakesh Dhir win the Temple election by more than 200 votes. The Nayyar team had tried to paint the incumbents as incompetent who took too long to build the new temple but voters decided to go with the old guard in a close election. The pandemic era election saw drive-by voting that saw members drive into the Burnaby temple and cast their votes.