OTTAWA — Heading into Monday’s byelection in Winnipeg, federal New Democrats are expecting to hold onto a seat that has been in the party for decades despite a fierce Conservative campaign that accused NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh of abandoning the working class.

The fight for Elmwood—Transcona marks the first head-to-head battle between the parties since the Conservatives soared in public opinion polls last year and after Singh entered into the now-defunct deal with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get priorities like dental care and pharmacare passed in exchange for propping up his minority government.