In a historic first, 23-year-old Tushar Kumar, a representative of the Labour Party, has become the youngest-ever Indian-origin Mayor in the United Kingdom.
Kumar took charge as the Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in Hertfordshire, England, during its annual Mayor Making Ceremony at Fairway Hall recently. "From studying Political Science at King’s College London to now serving the town I love, this journey feels surreal," Kumar wrote on X.
Born in Haryana, India, Kumar moved to the UK in 2013 at the age of 10 and graduated with a degree in Political Science from King’s College London. He holds an impressive academic record with 5 A-levels and 21 GCSEs.
He is set to begin a master’s degree in political economy at University College London (UCL) in September 2026, balancing his academic pursuits with mayoral duties.
Kumar entered grassroots politics early and was first elected as a town councillor at the age of 20 while still a university student. He made history alongside his mother, Parveen Rani, when they were both elected as Labour councillors in 2023, forming a unique mother-son duo in local governance. He frequently credits her as his primary political inspiration.
Before his historic elevation to Mayor, he served as the Deputy Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood. Strongly connected to his roots, he organized the council’s first-ever Diwali celebration. He also volunteers by running free Hindi language classes for British-Indian children through the Hindi Shiksha Parishad UK.
