From Rohtak To The Council Chamber: Haryana Mother–Son Duo Now Mayors In The UK

Nikunj Parikh May 24, 2026 1,050 Views

In a rare political milestone, 23-year-old Tushar Kumar and his mother Parveen Rani, who hail from Rohtak in Haryana, have both been elected mayors in two different British councils. Tushar is now the youngest Indian-origin mayor in UK history, while Parveen has become the first Indian-origin mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council. Their back-to-back wins are being celebrated across India and the Indian diaspora as a powerful story of migration, representation and second-generation success.

Historic Double Win For Rohtak Family

Tushar, a Labour councillor, was elected Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council on May 13, after first entering local politics in 2023 as one of Britain’s youngest Indian-origin councillors while still an undergraduate at King’s College London. Just a week later, on May 20, his mother Parveen Rani was chosen Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council, making the Rohtak-born duo one of the very few mother-son pairs to hold mayoral office simultaneously in the UK.

The family moved from Rohtak to the UK in 2013, with both parents working in the education sector. Tushar has credited Parveen as his key inspiration in public life; she herself rose from councillor to deputy mayor and now mayor in Hertsmere, a borough in Hertfordshire. As mayors, both will perform civic and ceremonial duties, champion local communities, and support charities and voluntary groups in their respective councils.

Why This Story Matters For Indian Diaspora Politics

For many observers, the Rohtak family’s trajectory—from Haryana to holding chains of office in English councils within just over a decade—embodies the growing visibility of Indian-origin leaders in local UK politics. It highlights how second-generation immigrants are moving from the margins to decision-making tables, especially in towns where multicultural communities and British Asians form a significant part of the population.

Diaspora Leadership Highlights

Tushar Kumar, 23, is now the youngest Indian-origin mayor in UK history
Elected Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council on May 13
Mother Parveen Rani became Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council on May 20
Family originally from Rohtak, Haryana; migrated to UK in 2013
Both will lead civic engagements, community events and charity initiatives in their councils