Continued loyalties

While Wajid Khan's defection has certainly received plenty of comment so far, one key element of the move seems to have slipped by unnoticed so far. Unlike his fellow Lib-turned-Con David Emerson, Khan appears likely to maintain at least some support from the organization that helped him to win his seat:

In an interview with the CBC following the defection, riding association president Khalid Sagheer said Khan "is my friend, I support him and I will continue to support him."

Asked whether backing Khan would mean switching party memberships himself, Sagheer said "that decision will come in due course."

"I agree with him and my own personal opinion is that the Liberal party has been taking us for granted — immigrants that have worked and supported the party so much, it's been so far only a one-way street," Sagheer said.

It remains to be seen whether Sagheer and others ultimately will follow Khan in his party switch. But if so, then the Libs now touting Mississauga-Streetsville as a cakewalk for a star candidate of the party's choosing may face a much tougher battle than they're anticipating. And if Sagheer's apparent views are shared by other Lib organizers, then the loss of a single MP could be the least of the Libs' worries going into the next election.