Indian origin Ranj Pillai set to become premier of Yukon Territory, Canada

Ranj Pillai the second politician of Indian background to lead a region in the nation. Pillai has been chosen as the party's leader of Yukon Territory in Canada by the executive, the Yukon Liberal Party said on Sunday.

The public are invited to the swearing-in ceremony of Premier-designate Ranj Pillai and his Cabinet at the Jim Smith Building foyer in Whitehorse. We'll also livestream the ceremony to the government's Facebook page at https://t.co/ji8W1bie6J. pic.twitter.com/j0aMK3tNdu

— Government of Yukon (@yukongov) January 11, 2023

Indian-origin Cabinet minister, will take the oath as Yukon's tenth premier on January 14. His Cabinet will be sworn in on the following Saturday afternoon in a public ceremony in the foyer of the Jim Smith Building, according to the executive council office of the Yukon government.

The Yukon Liberal Party announced on its website on January 8 that Pillai, whose ancestry can be traced to Kerala, had been officially selected as its leader. When the nomination period ended on January 7, according to the Yukon News, Pillai was the only nominee still in the running.

After the declaration, Pillai's campaign released a statement in which he promised to "work hard, seek common ground, act strategically, and fiercely protect the interests of the Yukon."

In Canadian history Pillai will become just the second premier of Indian ancestry following Ujjal Dosanjh who held that post in the province of British Columbia between 2000 and 2001.

This morning alongside my family, I met with the Honourable Angélique Bernard, Commissioner of the Yukon to share my intention to serve as the 10th Premier of the Yukon. pic.twitter.com/kNJish2qR1

— Ranj Pillai (@RanjPillai1) January 9, 2023

“This morning alongside my family, I met with the Honourable Angélique Bernard, Commissioner of the Yukon to share my intention to serve as the 10th Premier of the Yukon” Pillai posted on twitter.

Pillai succeeds former Premier Sandy Silver, who announced in September that he would be stepping down and would not run in Yukon's general election in 2025.

Furthermore the speaker thanked outgoing Premier Sandy Silver for his "leadership and dedication."

The current spokesperson for Porter Creek South, Pillai, was first chosen to serve in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the territorial election of 2016.