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An abrupt move by the Liberals to block a former London MPP from the federal party’s nomination race in London-Fanshawe has triggered a mass resignation of its riding association’s brass and left Khalil Ramal stinging.

Ramal, a two-term former McGuinty-era politician, had been in the race to become the Liberal candidate in the east London riding, a former Liberal seat going open in this fall’s election with the retirement of New Democrat MP Irene Mathyssen who snatched it from the Liberals 13 years ago.

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Ramal said he signed up more than 3,500 new party members, a record in his political career, only to watch the party red-light his candidacy in favour of a rival, Mohamed Hammoud, who’s expected to be acclaimed Tuesday night.

“I’m disappointed and I’m hurt,” Ramal, who ran the federal Liberals in the same riding in 2015, but lost, said Monday.

“I’m being blocked from being part of their team. I’ve run both federally and provincially, and every single time I’ve won the nomination,” he said, adding: ” I never thought for one minute in my life I would be blocked. It’s hurtful.”