India had adopted the Westminster model while making its own political system and today, 70 years since Independence, Indians are making considerable impact on the electoral affairs of its former colonial masters.
For example, Preet Kaur Gill, a 44-year-old Sikh woman from Edbgaston made history on Friday, June 9, when the results of the general elections in the UK came out, as she defeated Conservative Caroline Squire by over 6,000 votes from Birmingham Edgbaston. She became the first Sikh woman to become the member of the British House of Commons.
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Daughter of a bus driver, Labour Party's Gill is a councillor representing the St Paul's Ward, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, and was nominated by her party to replace the outgoing MP, Gisele Stuart. Gill was elected as a councillor for the Labour Party in December 2012.
First female Sikh MP elected to parliament as Labour's Preet Gill wins in #Birmingham Edgbaston, with over 6,000 more votes than Tory rival. pic.twitter.com/riXcMBHEZB
— I Am Birmingham (@IAmBirmingham) June 9, 2017
First turban-wearing Sikh candidate wins
Another Sikh Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi also created history in this election by becoming the first turban-wearing member of the community to get elected to Britain's Lower House. Dhesi is also from the Labour Party and won from Slough. He defeated his nearest rival, Mark Vivis of the Conservative Party, by almost 17,000 votes. Kuldip Sahota, also from the Labour Party, missed the chance of creating history as he lost in Telford by just 720 votes.
Paid respects & sought blessings at #Slough #Gurudwara after just being elected MP & before starting new journey of serving the community. pic.twitter.com/j8UgGC4ekK
— Tanmanjeet S Dhesi (@TanDhesi) June 9, 2017
Though Gill and Dhesi are not the first Sikhs to have won elections in the UK, their victories are not lesser milestones. While most of the more than 50 candidates who have a India connection have lost, the 12 candidates who won have set a record for Indian-origin MPs in the Lower House.
Other MPs with India connection in UK election 2017
- Alok Sharma [won]
- Priti Patel [won]
- Sailesh Vara [won]
- Suella Fernandes [won]
- Veerender Sharma [won]
- Lisa Nandy [won]
- Seema Malhotra [won]
- Paul Uppal [lost]
- Resham Kotecha [lost]
- Ameet Jogia [lost]
- Naveen Shah [lost]
- Neeraj Patil [lost]
- Rohit Dasgupta [lost]
The Labour Party has done better than expected in the election which was called by Prime Minister Theresa May three years ahead of the schedule to renew the verdict for the Brexit her government has been trying hard.
