Latest Update : Anita Anand announced on 12.01.24 that she is out of the PM race. She will also not seek re-election and will be focusing on academic career next. 

Following Justin Trudeau's announcement of his intention to step down as Canada’s Prime Minister, the ruling Liberal Party is searching for a new leader. The chosen successor will not only lead the Liberal Party but also become the next Prime Minister of Canada. 

Indian-origin Anita Anand (58) is one of the top 5 contenders to succeed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and what is more interesting is that she shares a surprising connection to Coimbatore.

Anita is currently Canada’s Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. She is one of two Indian-origin politicians vying for the top position. Her paternal grandfather, Vellalore Annaswamy Sundaram, was a freedom fighter who was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi.
 

Her father, Dr. Anand, originally from Tamil Nadu, was a general surgeon, while her mother, Dr. Saroj Ram, a native of Punjab, served as an anesthesiologist. 

Anita Anand began her political journey in 2019 when she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Oakville, a suburban district in the Greater Toronto Area. In 2021, she was appointed Canada’s Minister of National Defence. In December 2024, she took on the role of Minister of Transport, maintaining her status as a key figure in Trudeau’s Cabinet.