Former B.C. NDP president Sav Dhaliwal had a wish last month. It was that when spring arrived, it would bring new faces eager to lead the party.

That didn’t happen. And instead of a leadership contest that could fire up the membership, it looks like it’s going to be simply a coronation of the only guy left: John Horgan.

Obviously, Dhaliwal is disappointed. According to the Burnaby councillor, if the provincial NDP can’t attract more than one person to its leadership race, that raises a lot of questions.

“Do we have the right brand at the NDP?” Dhaliwal asked in a phone interview with the Straight. “Is it something that we should now really seriously look at once again?”

Having won only three elections in its history—and having suffered an upset last year—doesn’t look good. “A lot of people would think, ‘Is it really worth my while?’ ” Dhaliwal said.

Port Coquitlam MLA Mike Farnworth withdrew from the leadership race on April 8. In a display of unity, Farnworth joined other members of the party’s legislative caucus in endorsing Horgan, who represents Juan de Fuca on Vancouver Island.

The May 1 deadline for candidates is around the corner, and Dhaliwal doubts that another serious contender will emerge.

Despite his disappointment, Dhaliwal sees a bright side in this turn of events. Most of the caucus is standing behind Horgan. A potentially divisive contest is not in the cards.

He didn’t get his wish, but said “It probably is a good thing, in a way.”