The incumbent Conservative candidate in Calgary East did not attend the first debate of the campaign.

Deepak Obhrai declined to participate on Tuesday night because he said the event was set up by Liberal candidate Josipa Petrunic.

"She is more than welcome to have a debate with her friends because she has organized it," he said.

Petrunic said that although her campaign team set up the event, it in no way favoured her.

"Had we not initiated this there would be no all candidates debates, and I think Mr. Obhrai is using that excuse to get out of talking to people," she said.

More than 100 people showed up for the debate at the Inglewood Community Centre.

Although candidates from the Green Party and NDP attended, moderator Blair Cosgrove joked it was a "some candidate debate" without Obhrai.

Petrunic also opened the debate with a shot at the missing Conservative candidate, calling it "a lack of respect for the citizens when candidates don't show up."

Obhrai says there are two more all-candidate debates planned for the riding and he will attend both.

Petrunic's campaign team has only been invited to one more debate, organized by Engineers Without Borders. The location and date have not been set.

Two more election events will be held on Wednesday night in Calgary.

A "meet the candidates" event will be held in Calgary Centre-North and a debate in Calgary West.