Shivani Raja, an Indian-origin Tory politician, has been elected as the member of parliament for Leicester East. She triumphed over Rajesh Aggarwal, a former deputy mayor of London, in what was seen as a surprising victory given Leicester East’s long-standing reputation as a Labour Party stronghold. This marks the first time in 37 years that the constituency has chosen a Tory representative.
In the 2024 General Election, Raja secured 14,526 votes, leading by 4,426 votes ahead of Labour candidate Rajesh Aggarwal. A report by DeshGujarat highlighted Raja’s Gujarati origin and her roots in Diu. It mentioned that during the campaign, she dedicated significant time to engaging with British-Indian voters, particularly encouraging those from Diu and Gujarat to participate in online voting.
On the campaign trail, Raja connected with her heritage by performing the traditional dance form garba at events, visiting temples, and appearing with Surat mayor Daxesh Mavani to emphasize her Indian roots.
Raja’s parents relocated to Leicester from Kenya and India during the late 1970s. She completed her studies at De Montfort University, graduating with a degree in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science, and went on to work with leading cosmetics companies in England.
Raja’s victory is notable as her party performed poorly overall, winning just 121 seats compared to Labour’s landslide victory with over 400 seats. This election result ended the Tory rule and led to the resignation of outgoing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from both his position as Prime Minister and as Tory Chief.
Leicester had previously witnessed tensions between Indian and Pakistani communities following a cricket match altercation in 2022. Following the election, Keir Starmer, leader of the centre-left Labour Party, took office as the UK’s new prime minister. King Charles III officially appointed the 61-year-old former human rights lawyer during a meeting at Buckingham Palace.
