The federal Liberal Party will not allow St. Laurent borough mayor Alan DeSousa to run as a candidate.
CTV Montreal has learned that the party confirmed two other candidates for the riding, Yolande James and Marwah Rizqy, but refused DeSousa's application.
His name will not appear on the ballot at the vote where members will decide which candidate will represent the Liberals in an upcoming by-election.
No reason for the decision was provided.
DeSousa denounced the rejection Tuesday afternoon, and said he is appealling the decision to party brass.
"I hope justice will prevail, and that I will be chosen as the candidate for the Liberal party in this riding," said DeSousa.
"A decision must be made swiftly because with each day, my opponents with access to the voting list can do more."
DeSousa said he received a letter from the party, and said it gave no explicit reasons for the omission.
"The Green Light Committee has conducted a careful review of your eligibility to stand as a Qualified Nomination Contestant for the Liberal Party of Canada for by-election in the riding of Saint-Laurent," committee chair Suh Kim said in the letter obtained by The Canadian Press.
"Unfortunately, based on that evaluation, the Green Light Committee is not recommending you to be a Qualified Nomination Contestant. Your name will therefore not be on the ballot for the nomination."
The party said it cannot discuss individual cases.
"For confidentiality reasons, the party cannot comment on the details of one file in particular," spokeswoman Marjolaine Provost told The Canadian Press. "National rules outline the rigorous procedure Canadians expect from a national political party."
The longtime mayor of St. Laurent confirmed his intent to win the Liberal nomination for the riding of St. Laurent earlier this month, hoping to then represent the party in a by-election triggered by the resignation of Stephane Dion.
Dion was first elected in that riding in 1996.
James, a former MNA, took a leave of absence from a job at Radio-Canada and in February confirmed her intent for the Liberals.
A tax law professor, Rizqy ran for the Liberal party in the 2015 election and finished a few hundred votes behind the NDP candidate in the riding of Hochelaga, which until then had been considered a lost cause for the Liberals.
No other major party has named candidates for the April 3 by-election.
With files from Melanie Marquis of The Canadian Press
