Bernard Drainville pulls out of Parti Québécois leadership race, supports PKP

An emotional Bernard Drainville has announced his withdrawal from the Parti Québécois leadership race, throwing his support behind front-runner Pierre Karl Péladeau.

Drainville was thought to be the business mogul's biggest challenger in the battle to take over as PQ leader, but told a news conference Wednesday it was time to step aside.

The decision means Péladeau further tightens his hold on the race.  

"What I'm doing today is for the unity of the party," Drainville said.

"You have to look at the evidence. The vote has crystallized around Pierre Karl."

Drainville said he met with Péladeau after making his decision and had a "frank, amicable" discussion about what the priorities should be for the next PQ leader, including leaving it up to party members to decide when another sovereignty referendum should be held.

The MNA for Marie-Victorin, who launched his own leadership bid last October, is best known as the architect of the PQ's failed 2013 secular charter.

He put forward a revised secular charter proposal in January.  

In addition to Péladeau, the remaining leadership candidates are MNAs Alexandre Cloutier, Martine Ouellet and labour rights activist Pierre Céré.

Drainville had recently been critical of Péladeau, but opinion polls put him in third place behind the front-runner and the second-placed Cloutier.

Another high-profile candidate, MNA Jean-François Lisée, withdrew in January. Lisée said at the time he believes a victory for Péladeau is a foregone conclusion.

The PQ leadership vote will be held May 15.