Sukh Dhaliwal is the incumbent in Newton-North Delta, but the Liberal Party candidate is in a fight to keep his seat.

He is in a three-way race with New Democratic Party candidate Teresa Townsley and Conservative Party candidate Sandeep Pandher.

Last time around. the race was so tight that on election night, each of the parties was leading in the polls at some point in time.

When all the ballots were counted in 2006, less than 1600 votes separated first place from third.

THE 2006 RESULTS CAME IN AS FOLLOWS:

  • LIBERAL 15,006 VOTES
  • NDP - 14,006 VOTES
  • CONSERVATIVE 13,416 VOTES

According to one political science professor, this election there's a lot at stake - particularly for the Tories who are looking to reclaim this seat.

"For a minority government to get about 29 additional ridings, each riding is important and I think they are eyeing this one,'' said Shinder Purewal of Kwantlen Polytechnic University:

Newton-North Delta is a unique and diverse riding with the largest proportion of South Asian voters anywhere in Canada.

Shinder Purewal/Political Science Kwantlen Polytechnic University:

"You are looking at something like 150 language groups living in these two districts,'' said Purewal.

It means the ethnic vote is crucial.

Related Links: Battleground B.C. poll tracker

Sandeep Pandher says new Canadians are fairly passionate about voting.

Given that the NDP's signs are written in Punjabi, Pandher's opponents agree.

"They are very sophisticated voters,'' said Townsley. " More so, than perhaps people who aren't necessarily new Canadians."

"It's a very diverse riding so every single individual have a role to play,'' said Sukh Dhaliwal.

As the incumbent Dhaliwal sees his role as helping his constituents... But that can backfire. Early in campaign he faced criticism for writing a letter of endorsement for a convicted drug trafficker

"If you read the letter, it clearly says that I support his rehabilitation,'' he said.

Dhaliwal doesn't think the letter of support will cost him votes.

"If you look behind that letter, look at [my record over] two and a half years, I've been the toughest guy on crime."

Whether that letter makes a difference come election day is unclear. What seems to be clear is that this riding is on the front lines of the fight for battleground B.C.

With reports by CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro and Jim Beatty.