Ottawa MP Chandra Arya has been disqualified from running for the leadership of the Liberal Party. Arya shared the news on social media, stating that he would “not be permitted to enter the leadership race.”

Arya, who has represented the Nepean riding since 2015, had expressed his intentions to run in early January following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. In his post, Arya reflected on the decision, noting, “This raises significant questions about the legitimacy of the leadership race and, consequently, the next Prime Minister of Canada.”

A spokesperson for the Liberal Party, Parker Lund, confirmed via email that Arya would not be a candidate for the party’s leadership.

With Arya out of the race, the field now consists of six contenders: former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, ex-banker Mark Carney, House Leader Karina Gould, Nova Scotia MP Jaime Battiste, and former MPs Frank Baylis and Ruby Dhalla.

The party is set to announce the new leader on March 9.