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After Rishi Sunak's historic elevation to the position of prime minister of Britain, another Indian-origin individual is hoping to create a watershed moment in the UK's political history.
Tarun Ghulati, a Delhi-born entrepreneur, is running as an independent candidate in the London mayoral elections, due to be held on Thursday, 2 May. "I feel upbeat and believe I will win. I have the blessings of different communities including, of course, the Indian diaspora," Ghulati, 63, said in an exclusive interview with The Quint.
The father of two says that his greatest advantage in the polls among the 13 candidates in the fray is that he does not come from a political background – and can manage the city's administration like a "seasoned CEO".
After graduating from the University of Jaipur and Delhi University, Ghulati worked at HSBC and Citibank – roles which took him across West Asia, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the UK. However, he says that his roots are grounded in India.
Ghulati says that his family have been involved in public betterment since the 19th century, and the prime reason behind his decision to take the political plunge was the guidance enshrined by his family heritage.
"My ancestors co-founded Punjab National Bank, the second largest bank in India, along with some smaller banks. We gave undivided Punjab its first agriculture minister," he said, adding, "It's in my blood – for me it's all about the people."
Ghulati says that not only is he proud of Indian culture, but also the economic transformation of the country over the years. "I believe India will be the number one economy in the next 20 years," he says.
The businessman-turned-politician, who has a shadow cabinet in place, says that he is confident of victory as long as people from different communities come out to vote in large numbers on 2 May.
"I believe in taking all communities along. I am a proud Hindu, and my roots teach me Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam [the world is one family]."
"Politicians have blurred the vision for London. The incumbent mayor has set London behind by eight years," Ghulati said in a dig at Pakistani-origin politician Sadiq Khan.
Metropolitan Police estimates in January show 1,008 homicides have been recorded since 2016, according to Daily Mail. Figures suggest 110 murders were recorded by the police in 2023 – broadly in line with 2022. That’s down from a peak of 153 in 2019 – and is also lower than the 120 recorded in 2015.
In the same breath, Ghulati called the recent alleged vandalisation of the Indian High Commission in London 'disappointing'.
"I was heartbroken when some pro-Khalistani elements pulled down the Indian flag from the Indian High Commission in London," he told The Quint, adding, "As mayor I will deal with such disorder sternly."
However, he cautioned, "I hear some noises every now and then over the Khalistan issue, but I feel it isn’t as bad here as people and the media portray it to be.”
According to a poll conducted by Queen Mary University of London and published on Monday, 29 April, Sadiq Khan has a 13-point lead over Susan Hall. The poll found that if the election were to be held tomorrow, 46 percent of the 1,038 adults interviewed would vote for Khan and 33 percent for Hall.
Ghulati, however, dismissed the polls over their relatively small sample size.
"Some people feel that they need to vote for a particular party rather than an independent candidate. They must understand that this isn't a general election," he told The Quint.
Ghulati's campaign pledge includes doing away with many of Khan's purportedly "unpopular" policies – such as the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
The ULEZ was introduced by Khan in 2019 in a bid to reduce pollution. According to the policy, vehicles not meeting emission standards will have to pay a daily charge of £12.50 to drive within the zone.
Further, Ghulati has assured voters that he will look into the welfare of the police force.
In addition, Ghulati aims to set up specialised units – including one focused solely on the safety of women.
Free meals in schools, affordable housing, minimising council tax, and bringing in more investment flows into the capital city are some of the other pledges Ghulati has announced in his election manifesto.
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