Greg Selinger on leadership win and party's political future

The fight over leadership of Manitoba's New Democrats is now over, but Premier Greg Selinger now faces an ongoing battle to bring together a team split apart by a public internal revolt.

Selinger held on to his job as premier and NDP leader at the party's leadership convention on Sunday, fending off challenges by former cabinet ministers Theresa Oswald and Steve Ashton.

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It marked the first time in Canada that a sitting premier had to fight to keep his seat, and it capped off a four-month rebellion within the party.

But Selinger held on by just a narrow margin 33 votes separated him and Oswald on the second ballot - raising suggestions that a massive divide remains within the party.

"Well, it shows that we had competitive contestants, and that was to be expected," Selinger told the CBC's Chris Glover on Monday.

Thanks to the delegate system used at the convention, about 1,700 members could vote in Sunday's election. The NDP has started a committee to determine if there's a better way to elect a party leader in the future.

Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister accused Selinger of striking deals with union leaders to win the leadership contest, but Selinger said that's not true.

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"I made it very clear that I would not be making any specific commitment to anybody other than to treat people fairly and make sure that whatever we do serves the best interests of Manitobans," he said.

Seven MLAs remain barred from attending NDP caucus meetings, including Oswald and four others who quit their cabinet posts to protest Selinger's leadership last fall.

When asked if and when those MLAs would be allowed back into caucus, Selinger said no decision has been made at this time.

"We want as unified a team as possible going forward, no question about it, and I want that as well. But again, it's all about everybody finding a way to come together," he said.

Click on the video player to watch an extended excerpt of Glover's interview with Selinger.