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“The party needs a serious reckoning,” said Angus, who did not rule out another leadership run. “It was an absolutely disastrous campaign.”

Angus had represented the Northern Ontario riding of Timmins — James Bay since 2004, but did not seek re-election this year. His riding was one of 17 the NDP lost in Monday’s crushing election defeat, as it fell to seven seats in the House of Commons and took just six per cent of the popular vote.

“At some point, we stopped being the New Democratic Party of Canada and we became Team Jagmeet,” Angus said. Despite having “really good policies” and “exceptional candidates,” Angus said the national campaign put the spotlight on Singh, including by sharing  he called “out of touch” that show Singh, with his hair uncovered, discussing politics and wrapping his turban.

Singh announced on election night he will resign as leader after he lost in his own riding and the NDP failed to win the 12 seats required for official party status, which grants extra resources and privileges in the House of Commons.

However, the seven New Democrat MPs could have a chance to influence Mark Carney’s Liberal minority government — including pushing to lower the benchmark to gain official party status — after the Liberals fell four seats short of the number needed to form a majority government.

Singh will officially step down when the party chooses an interim leader. In an interview with Radio-Canada’s Midi Info this week, Quebec MP Alexandre Boulerice said he was interested in that role.

The Star reported Wednesday that MPs Heather McPherson and Leah Gazan, former MP Matthew Green (who lost his bid for re-election in Hamilton this week), and longtime activist and candidate Avi Lewis have not ruled out leadership bids. 

Neither have Vancouver MPs Don Davies and Jenny Kwan, and former MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, who lost in her bid to retake her Quebec seat in this election, according to media reports.

Angus said while New Democrats are grieving the election result, “the worst thing we can do is to be dishonest,” and blame the devastating result solely on strategic voting in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to Canada.

“People wanted to know who was gonna stand up to Trump and Mark Carney did a damn good job,” Angus said. “We missed the moment. Our offer wasn’t coherent.”

And while Angus agreed with Singh’s decision not to trigger an election last fall, when Justin Trudeau’s Liberals were slumping in the polls and mired in internal crises, he said the NDP did not properly explain its exit from the confidence-and-supply agreement that had propped up Trudeau’s minority government.

Asked if he was considering a bid for leadership, Angus said his focus right now is “on the resistance,” a reference to a movement the former MP is leading that pushes back against American-style far-right politics and economic aggression, which includes a national tour.

Green told the Star this week that the next NDP leader needs to share responsibility with caucus and not make decisions with a “top-down” style, although he did not name Singh.

“I have an interest in moving the party away from the culture of a cult of leadership,” said Green, who said he will try to win back his former seat in the next election.

With files from Alex Ballingall