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OTTAWA — The young and popular deputy leader of Ontario’s NDP says he’s open to running for the leadership of the federal party.

“If there was a grassroots movement then I would seriously consider it,” Jagmeet Singh told the National Post. “I haven’t committed to anything, nor have I closed the door to anything.”

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The 37-year-old was elected to the provincial legislature in 2011 for his Brampton, Ont. riding, Bramalea-Gore-Malton, after narrowly losing a bid for a federal seat that year to Conservative Bal Gosal.

A former criminal defence lawyer, Singh became the first turbaned Sikh MPP in the province.

In 2013, he made Toronto Life’s “50 Most Influential” and “Toronto’s Best Dressed” lists. He was also named one of Queen’s Park Briefing’s 75 most powerful people in the province. He’s fluent in French, along with Punjabi and Indian Urdu.

Many in Ottawa are abuzz at the prospect. Singh has the “royal jelly,” said Robin MacLachlan, a vice president at Summa Strategies and a longtime NDP organizer. Singh has become something of a political celebrity in Toronto, who is sometimes “almost mobbed” at events, MacLachlan said.