Shivani Raja, a 29-year-old businesswoman of Gujarati descent, has made headlines by winning the Leicester East seat for the Conservative Party in the UK Parliament. Ending Labour Party’s 37-year dominance in the constituency, Shivani secured victory over Rajesh Agrawal, a former deputy mayor of London, with 14,526 votes to Agrawal’s 10,100.
After taking her oath in the UK Parliament on the Bhagavad Gita, Shivani expressed her pride in representing Leicester East. She emphasized her allegiance to King Charles, marking a significant moment in her political career.
It was an honour to be sworn into Parliament today to represent Leicester East.
I was truly proud to swear my allegiance to His Majesty King Charles on the Gita.#LeicesterEast pic.twitter.com/l7hogSSE2C
— Shivani Raja MP (@ShivaniRaja_LE) July 10, 2024
The election, held on July 4, also saw 27 other Indian-origin Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons, reflecting a diverse representation in British politics. The victory of Labour Party under Keir Starmer, who secured 412 seats, resulted in a transformative change in UK leadership, with Starmer becoming the new Prime Minister.
This election marked a shift in British politics with Labour gaining a significant majority in the House of Commons, promising to rebuild Britain under Starmer’s leadership. The outcome saw emotional farewells from outgoing leaders, including Rishi Sunak, who announced his intention to step down as Conservative Party leader in light of the electoral results.
The new Parliament boasts the largest number of women ever elected and a record number of lawmakers of color, showcasing a more inclusive representation in the UK’s legislative body.
