Haryana family gets double delight as mother-son duo elected mayors in UK

In a moment of pride for a family originally from Haryana's Rohtak, a mother-son duo has created history in the United Kingdom after both were elected as mayors within a span of a week.

Tushar Kumar, 23, has been elected as Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, becoming the youngest Indian-origin mayor in the UK. A week later his mother Parveen Rani was elected the first Indian origin Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council.

Tushar’s father Sunil Dahiya told news agency PTI over phone on Sunday that Tushar was elected Mayor on May 13 while Parveen took over as Mayor on May 20.

Prior to moving to the UK in 2013, the family had been settled in Rohtak for a long time. Their ancestral village Rohna is in Kharkhoda in Sonipat district of Haryana.

Businessman Dahiya said they had nothing in particular in mind when they moved to the UK in 2013 with his wife Parveen and two children. “When we moved to the UK in 2013, we didn’t have anything particular in mind. Tushar was only 10 then,” he said.

“It is a matter of great pride today that a mother and her son from a family who are of Indian origin have become mayors at the same time,” he said.

"Both Tushar and his mother have always been inclined towards community welfare and social service," Dahiya said. “Tushar did a lot of community service,” he said.

He said Tushar Kumar was elected as councillor while studying at a college in London at the age of just 20 years.

Dahiya said his family still has links to its roots in Haryana and they also have a house in Rohtak where some other members of the family live. We always stay in touch with our roots. “We go back home every year,” he said.

Tushar strongly feels that age should never come in the way of entering public and community service and his message to the youth is that you can enter public or community service without waiting for a certain age. His father said he strongly believes in being rooted to your culture and heritage.

Tushar’s opportunity came through volunteering and community work. While he is very proud of his Indian heritage, at the same time he is equally proud of the wonderful diverse British town that he serves which is a cultural melting pot, Dahiya said.

Tushar has been recently elected as Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood. The Labour councillor who joined Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council this year was previously deputy mayor.

Tushar and his mother also used to teach Hindi free of cost to those born and brought up in UK. "Tushar is also associated with a charity-based organisation -- the Hindi Shiksha Parishad," the father said.

He said both Tushar and his mother contested elections for the first time in 2023 and were elected councillors.

Before becoming mayor, Parveen was also Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Parks, Leisure and Culture, deputy mayor of Hertsmere and Global Envoy for Film and Television. “Tushar was elected deputy mayor in 2025,” said Dahiya.

Tushar is a graduate of the King’s College London. He was a second year undergraduate at the college reading for a BSc in politics when he became a councillor at the age of 20.

He will also be doing his Masters degree this September.

“My youngest son is getting his degree from the King’s College as well. Dahiya said he is also a trustee in the King’s College Students Union.

“Parveen Rani is a passionate person about community service, education, culture and bringing people together across all generations and backgrounds,” he added.