23-Year-Old Indian-Origin Councillor Becomes Youngest Mayor in UK Town

A 23-year-old Indian-origin politician has made history by becoming the youngest Mayor of Indian origin in the United Kingdom , after taking charge of the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in eastern England.

Tushar Kumar, a Labour Party councillor and former Political Science student at King’s College London, assumed office as Mayor at a ceremony held at Fairway Hall last week. He represents the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in Hertfordshire , where he was first elected as a councillor in 2023 while still a student in London.

Kumar had earlier served as Deputy Mayor of the same council before being selected as Mayor through the council’s internal voting process, a standard practice in UK local bodies where councillors choose the Mayor from among themselves.

In his statement after taking charge, Kumar said it was an “incredible honour” and expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him. He thanked residents, community organisations, fellow councillors, and his family and friends for their continued support throughout his journey.

He also thanked outgoing Mayor Dan Ozarow for his guidance and welcomed Councillor Linda Smith as the new Deputy Mayor. Kumar said he looked forward to working closely with her in serving the local community over the coming year.

As Mayor, he said his focus would be on being active within the community, supporting local charities and voluntary organisations , and encouraging more young people to participate in public service. He added that real change begins at the community level and emphasised the importance of local engagement.

Kumar credited King’s College London’s Civic Leadership Academy for helping him build confidence and public speaking skills. He also gained experience through the University Officers’ Training Corps during his student years.

His professional experience includes working as a Policy Advisor at the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and as a Research Analyst for a national LGBTQ+ charity. He has also contributed to literacy initiatives with Bookmark Reading Charity and participated in various community volunteering activities.

For his mayoral term, Kumar has chosen WD6 Food Support , a local voluntary network assisting vulnerable residents, as his focus charity.