Quicksplained: Delhi-born Tarun Ghulati in fray for London mayor. What are his plans for the city?

This 2 May, London is set to choose its next mayor in what is expected to be a tough contest. Among the 13 contenders is an independent Indian-origin businessman and investment banker, Tarun Ghulati. He promises to bring back the “smile and mojo” to one of the greatest financial centres in the world.

Ghulati, who has called himself a “proud Londoner”, has lived in the city for the last 20 years. His biggest challengers are incumbent Labour Party mayor Sadiq Khan and Conservative Party candidate Susan Hall.

But who is Ghulati and what are his big plans for London? Let’s take a closer look

1. Born and raised in India, Ghulati spent 35 years of his life in the suburbs of New Delhi. The 63-year-old businessman and banker graduated from the University of Jaipur and holds an MBA from Delhi University. He held sales and management roles at Xerox, Philips, and Citi Bank before making the jump as international manager at HSBC in 1993.

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2. After a posting in London in 2003, Ghulati chose to make the UK his forever home, drawn by the diversity and possibilities in the city. He mentioned that his family has been involved in public service over the last three centuries, adding he has been doing the same for 35-odd years.

3. Ghulati said he takes “a lot of pride” in being of Indian origin but considers himself a “man of the world”. He reportedly enjoys the support of Asians, including a good chunk of the Muslim population in London.

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The aspiring mayor who speaks many languages describes his experience in India that has taught him to “take all religions, all the religions and all cultures and all genders along”, he told NDTV.

4. According to Gulati, his experience as chairman and CEO on various company boards such as Indus Global, Barmer Corporation, and UTI International gives him an edge and will help him “bring in” investments unlike his compatriots who he says are “playing with the sentiments of people”.

5. Ghulati told The Standard that he seeks to tackle the city’s problems like a “seasoned CEO” and wants to “get London moving again” while strengthening community cohesion and improving policing.

6. Improving security and policing and reducing crime against women are among the major promises made by the banker who says he will ensure more visible community policing in London by hiring more officers and advisors from “different communities” and reopening police stations across the city. While elaborating on his plans, Ghulati said, “I’ve been going around the boroughs and I get to see new problems, different areas, different communities… I’m going to tackle crime with a fervour never seen before.”

7. Ghulati’s priorities include reducing council tax and making housing affordable for Londoners. If elected to victory, the banker plans to push for changes in land use regulations to make affordable housing development easier and to implement rent control measures to protect tenants from steep rent hikes, according to a BBC report.

8. Terming London as one of the most “congested” and “slowest” cities in the world, Ghulati launched an attack on Sadiq Khan for bringing London to a “standstill”. He plans to scrap Khan’s unpopular policies, such as the high costs associated with Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) charges and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) across the city. He promises to improve access and amenities of public transport for the elderly and specially-abled.

9. Some of Ghulati’s other focus areas include, tackling pollution, boosting tourism to the UK capital, and ensuring free school meals.

With inputs from agencies