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Floor-crossing MP Eve Adamss bid to run for the federal Liberals in Toronto is causing a rift between local party supporters and Justin Trudeaus team in Ottawa just as the federal election approaches and the party looks to the GTA to pick up much-needed seats.

Some federal Toronto Liberals, who raised money for Mr. Trudeau and his team and worked to help him win a couple of key by-elections, are dismayed they werent consulted about the decision to bring Ms. Adams into the Eglinton-Lawrence riding. They question why Mr. Trudeau would bill her defection as such a triumph after the Conservatives told her she couldnt run for them after alleged misconduct in a nomination race last year.

One senior Liberal organizer, who has been active on the federal front and asked that his name not be used, describes the decision to embrace Ms. Adams as stupidity, especially given that Mr. Trudeau ran around saying nominations were open and he would not appoint people.

He says he may sit this election out and some provincial Liberals feel the same way.

Mike Colle, the long-time Eglinton-Lawrence Liberal MPP, has helped his federal counterparts in past general elections but says he wont go near her if she becomes the candidate.

In fact, hes not talking to her or her campaign manager, Tom Allison, a successful and respected Liberal organizer. Mr. Colle says Mr. Allison lectured him about being loyal to the party. Youre using that word loyalty in terms of Eve Adams? Mr. Colle says he said to Mr. Allison. I dont want to talk about it.

This angst in the ranks is playing out against the backdrop of vote-rich Ontario the province is gaining 15 seats under redistribution and will elect 121 of the 338 MPs in the coming election. The Liberals, who are the third party in the Commons, are focusing a lot of their effort in the Greater Toronto Area, which has close to 50 ridings. Strategists believe they have a big opportunity in the GTA, which is evident given the amount of time Mr. Trudeau is spending in the area.

A united front with all Liberals working together could help their election prospects.

But Mr. Colle says parachuting Ms. Adams in from the Tory ranks where she has been the MP for the suburban riding Mississauga-Brampton South since 2011, and directly into a riding where she has no close connection is an affront to all the Liberals there.

Mr. Allison, meanwhile, says he would be an idiot to try to lecture an elected official. What I actually asked Mike was would he ever accept Eves call or return her call, or should she stop trying to speak to him. He smiled and walked away from me, Mr. Allison wrote in an e-mail.

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Liberals latest angst: Its all about Eve Adams