Rishi Sunak’s place in history books secure as first British Indian UK Prime Minister
London (PTI): No matter what the outcome of Thursday's landmark general election in the UK is, Rishi Sunak’s place in the history books as Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage is secure.
The 44-year-old was undoubtedly the underdog in the election, coming at the end of a long line of Conservative Party leaders over 14 tough years that underwent some seismic shocks in the form of Brexit and then the COVID pandemic. It was in the midst of the latter that Sunak shone as Britain’s first Indian-origin Chancellor, stepping up to the seemingly impossible task of reassuring a panicked public about their finances. However, the bond between him and his boss at the time, Boris Johnson, fell prey to the latter's downward popularity spiral with the scandal of lockdown law-breaking party-gate scandal.
Sunak was elected Conservative Party leader on Diwali day in October 2022, when he entered 10 Downing Street as the youngest British Prime Minister in 210 years and the country's very first non-white leader.
In his first address at the doorstep of 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister, Sunak pledged to approach the country's problems with "compassion" and "to place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government's agenda".
However, he took charge at a particularly volatile period amid soaring inflation made worse by predecessor Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-budget. While he succeeded in his aim to bring inflation back down, the wider sense of anti-incumbency against his deeply divided party has only intensified.
In the ensuing months, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sunak worked towards clinching a free trade agreement (FTA) but the negotiations stalled in round 14 as both prepared for their respective general election cycles.
"I held warm and productive discussions with Prime Minister Modi on strengthening our relationship in defence, technology and a free trade deal between our nations,” Sunak told Parliament following his first visit to India as PM for the G20 Summit in September last year.
"For the record, let me declare that as is a matter of public record, I and my family are of Indian origin. My wife and her family are Indian citizens with financial interests in India,” he said, with reference to wife Akshata Murty’s shares in Infosys – the software major co-founded by her father Narayana Murthy.
Southampton-born Sunak’s parents – retired doctor Yashvir and pharmacist Usha Sunak – are of Indian descent, tracing their migration route from Kenya to the UK in the 1960s. He met his Indian wife while they were students at Stanford University and went on to be elected Member of Parliament from the Tory stronghold of Richmond in Yorkshire in 2015.
The former hedge fund expert embraced politics and quickly rose the party ranks from junior ministerial posts to Chancellor of the Exchequer and launched a spirited #Ready4Rishi leadership campaign back in July 2022.
"Rishi and I met when we were 24 when we were both studying abroad in America. Right from the very beginning, I was struck by two things about him… his deep love for his home, the United Kingdom, and his sincere desire to ensure as many people as possible have a chance to have the opportunities he was lucky enough to have had. It completely energised him. Being with Rishi was the easiest decision of my life,” Akshata Murty told the Conservative Party conference last October, making her debut on the political stage.
This strong family spirit was on display last weekend when the devout Hindu couple paid a visit to the iconic BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, north London.
"It is dharma which guides me in my approach to public service,” stated Sunak, adding that while he’s proud to be the first British Indian Prime Minister, he is “even prouder that it is not a big deal”.
“The events of the last few days should not make us forget that the United Kingdom is the world's most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy and we should all be uplifted by that,” he said, amid applause.
He was referring to the racist attack on the election campaign trail by a far-right Reform UK activist, which he had emotionally rebutted earlier saying "It hurts, and it makes me angry" when called a “Paki”.
"I don't repeat those words lightly. I do so deliberately because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is,” he said.
But has consistently maintained that “never let anyone tell you that this is a racist country. It is not."
"My story is a British story. A story about how a family can go from arriving here with little to Downing Street in three generations,” he said in his conference address last year.
Now, having celebrated a few Diwalis lighting diyas and decorating rangolis on the most famous street in the UK, Sunak has hit a new milestone in his political career. His decision to call a snap summer election triggered the scandal of Tory candidates betting over this earlier-than-expected date sometime in the autumn.
Sunak's gamble to reveal July 4 as the election date while getting drenched on the steps of Downing Street without an umbrella was perhaps never going to be a safe bet, given all opinion polls widely predicting a landslide in favour of the Opposition Labour Party.
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Supriya Sule vows to rebuild NCP (SP) with renewed commitment
Mumbai, Nov 24: Senior NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule said on Sunday that her party, which won 10 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections, respects people’s mandate and pledged to work towards a capable, inclusive and progressive state.
In a statement on X, the Baramati MP promised to rebuild their party and said it would move forward with determination despite its dismal show. Her party and its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) collectively bagged only 46 of the state’s 288 assembly seats.
“We respect and humbly accept the verdict of the people in the assembly elections. This result is a moment for deep reflection and renewal. We will introspect, learn, and rebuild with honesty, hard work, and an unshakable commitment to the values we stand for,” Sule wrote.
She stressed that her party was committed to creating a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra.
“Our vision of a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra remains unchanged. We reaffirm our pledge to fight for the rights, dignity, and self-respect of farmers, workers, women, youth, and every marginalised section of society,” Sule stated.
Sule said that her party will continue to carry forward the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule. “We are determined to carry forward the timeless ideals of Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar with renewed energy and purpose,” she wrote on the social media platform.
Sule congratulated those who had won in the elections. “We hope you will serve Maharashtra with dedication and prioritise the welfare of every citizen,” she said.
The MP, the daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, expressed gratitude to the voters, party workers, their MVA allies and the authorities for facilitating the elections.
“A heartfelt thank you to all voters, the diligent workers and leaders of NCP (SP), our Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, the Election Commission, police, administration, media, and everyone who contributed to making this election a vibrant celebration of democracy," Sule added.
Sule said the party would remain focused on its goals and continue its efforts to serve the people of Maharashtra. “We remain steadfast. Our fight continues—with humility, with courage, and with the hope of building a Maharashtra that fulfils the dreams of its people,” she added.
Sharad Pawar suffered the worst-ever defeat in his political career in Maharashtra polls with the NCP faction led by him winning only 10 seats in the 288-member House. His MVA partners Congress and Sena (UBT) got 16 and 20 seats, respectively.
The ruling Mahayuti scored a massive victory with the BJP winning 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde emerging victorious in 57, and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar grabbing 41 seats.
