Former Bloc MP Maria Mourani acclaimed as NDP candidate in Ahuntsic

New NDP member Maria Mourani answers a question during a press conference in in Ottawa, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

The NDP has made it official -- former Bloc Quebecois MP Maria Mourani will wear its colours in the next federal election.

Mourani was acclaimed late Wednesday at a meeting in the Montreal riding attended by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.

She was kicked out of the Bloc in 2013 for her outspoken criticism of the Parti Quebecois' proposed secularism charter.

Mourani had been sitting as an Independent since her ouster from the separatist party, but joined the NDP last fall.

A party official says others interested in the north-end Montreal riding dropped out when Mourani announced she wanted to run.

The party, which currently holds 54 seats in Quebec, is looking to defend Montreal ridings it won from the Bloc and Liberals in 2011.