Rohtak-born Tusshar Kumar has become the youngest ever Indian-origin mayor in the UK.
Tusshar, 23, a Labor Party member, has taken over as mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood, a town in the east of the UK.
His family, originally from Rohna village in Haryana’s Sonipat district, moved to Rohtak, where Tusshar was born, before moving to the UK with his parents – Sunil Zia and Praveen Rane – in 2013. He graduated from King’s College, London, and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies.
Talking to HT about his trip, Tusshar said that his family has long been associated with community welfare and civic initiatives in Britain.
“In 2023, I became a councilor when I was 20 years old, representing a local council in the east of England. Two years later, I became deputy mayor and now the youngest mayor,” he said.
His mother also works as a consultant while his father is a businessman. “As mayor, I want to support local organizations, inspire more young people to enter politics and continue serving the community,” he added.
Recalling his political journey, Tusshar said that neither he nor his family had any political background when they arrived in Britain. He said: “We started with social and charitable work, and gradually gave people the opportunity to represent them.”
Comparing politics in India and the United Kingdom, Tusshar notes that political growth in Britain is more often shaped by ability and public service than by family lineage. He said: “In the UK, people look at your ability and commitment to society. Age is not necessarily a barrier, although being young brings its own challenges.”
Speaking about the family’s social initiatives, Tusshar said, “We teach Hindi for free and also have an MoU with Delhi University for British-born children to learn Hindi through online and offline classes.”
He added that the Indian community in the area is relatively small compared to the Jewish population, and his family remained actively involved in charitable and cultural activities. Despite settling abroad, Tusshar said his family is still connected to their roots in Haryana and they also own a house there. “The last time I visited India was in 2025, and we are planning to come to Rohtak again soon,” he said.
Looking to the future, Tusshar said he now aspires to become a member of the British Parliament and hopes to play a greater role in British politics. He said: “I hope one day to become British Prime Minister.”
