Who are the two Indian-origin candidates running for the post of London mayor?

The UK has an Indian-origin prime minister. Now, two businessmen are competing to become London’s next powerful Indian. The election for the Mayor of London is scheduled for 2 May and the battleground of candidates challenging the incumbent, Sadiq Khan, is gradually expanding. The two Indian-origin entrepreneurs have thrown their hats in the ring as independent candidates. While businessman Tarun Ghulati, 63, had launched his mayoral campaign during a visit to India at the end of last year, property entrepreneur Shyam Batra, 62, is the latest entrant to the contest making up nearly a dozen candidates. Here’s all we know about them. About Tarun Ghulati Tarun Ghulati, an investment banker, announced his candidature for the elections in Hyderabad recently. His election tagline is “trust and growth.” Born in Delhi, the strategic advisor has called north London home for over 20 years. His father was a former secretary in the government of India, according to PTI. He is a co-founder of the 21st Century Icon Awards in London. Ghulati has a strong family legacy of public service, spanning over 140 years, which has deeply influenced his values of humility, respect, hard work, integrity, and trust. His commitment to public service and ability to bridge generations and cultures makes him an ideal candidate for the 2024 London Mayoral election.

The ground swell support will propel me to become the next Mayor of London. I invite every Londoner to be part of a brighter future for the city we call home. Even my 90 year old father who has been a source of inspiration for me all life, hit the campaign trail with me. pic.twitter.com/QmJMC5hQvF

— TarunGhulati (@TarunGhulati) December 21, 2023

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated leadership, overseeing financial operations across multiple countries and playing pivotal roles in mergers and acquisitions. He has been an advocate for mentorship and entrepreneurship, supporting startups and scale-ups in various countries. He was also extensively involved in various boards, committees, and organisations. Speaking to PTI, the 63-year-old said that his top priorities are “getting the English capital moving again,” by abolishing the entirety of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). He intends to do away with Ulez, the weekend and holiday congestion tax, review speed restrictions and low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), and prioritise affordable housing, according to the BBC. In addition, he plans to create more police stations in high-crime areas and increase the number of officers on the street. “London is ranked the best city in the world and is a proud global city. As Mayor of London, I am determined to do whatever it takes to ensure that London, my chosen home, retains its place as the leading global city and that all Londoners feel safe, secure, and empowered with opportunities for growth,” he told the news agency. He added, “I am standing as an independent candidate to become the next Mayor of London because I want to encourage the free flow of ideas and policies without party ideology and bias. I am getting ideas from the people and will accordingly work for the people, involving them where feasible in the decision-making process.” Asked about his decision to launch his mayoral campaign in India, he said: “India is my janambhoomi, where I was born, and London is my karambhoomi, where I do my work. It was very important for me to get the blessings of elders, parents, family, and well-wishers. That is why I chose to kickstart and launch my campaign for Mayor of London in India.” Ghulati claims he is “a catalyst for positive change,” so he hopes that people will vote for him. About Shyam Batra Shyam Batra is a property and finance trader who was born and raised in Uxbridge, West London. He says that because “the city is broken,” he wants to be mayor of London. Batra’s election tagline is “ambassador of hope.” According to PTI, Batra said, “I am deeply troubled by the current state of the city. It saddens me to witness residents being taken advantage of and victimised by a defunct policy system. I am fully committed to devoting my energy and passion to this cause.” Instead of seeing himself as a “party political candidate,” he told the BBC that he “just wants to fix London and give people a voice.” His platform also includes abolishing the ULEZ tax, which, according to him, has burdened Londoners with unnecessary financial strain. According to Hillingdon Times, he said, “It’s time to put money back into the pockets of hard-working Londoners. The ULEZ tax has only added to the financial struggles of our citizens, and that has to change.” Along with this, he wants to eliminate knife crime, rapes, and killings by collaborating closely with local law enforcement agencies. As founder of a “private bespoke financial business” geared towards affordable property ownership and frugal business choices, the British Indian property businessman feels he has the right credentials to overcome the hurdles to take charge of running the UK capital. “I understand that the road ahead will be challenging, with days and nights filled with overwhelming obstacles. It is precisely these difficulties that we must overcome to regain and restore our city to its rightful place,” he said. Mayoral elections in London Those running for Mayor of London must officially nominate themselves in March and then provide a signature and deposit of the necessary number of supporters. 2 The final list of candidates will be announced on 2 April, a month before the election. Besides the two British Indians, those declaring their intention so far to challenge Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan from winning a third four-year term in the post include Susan Hall (Conservative Party); Rob Blackie (Liberal Democrats); Howard Cox (Reform UK); Zoe Garbett (Green Party); Natalie Campbell (independent); Amy Gallagher (independent); Rayhan Haque (independent); and Andreas Michli (independent). With inputs from PTI