A Political Science graduate from King’s College London, Kumar previously served as Deputy Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood. He was first elected as a councillor at age 20 and credited his mother, Parveen Rani, as his inspiration for entering politics.
In a LinkedIn post, Kumar expressed sincere gratitude to the community, reflecting on his rise from a local grassroots volunteer to the highest civic post in the town.
“An incredible honour to officially become the Mayor of Elstree & Borehamwood last night and, at 23 years old, the youngest ever Indian-origin Mayor in the history of the United Kingdom. I am truly humbled by the trust placed in me and incredibly grateful for all the support, kindness and encouragement I have received throughout this journey,” he said.
Before becoming mayor, he also served as a policy advisor for the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions. He actively works to preserve cultural heritage by running free Hindi language classes for British-Indian children in the community.
Kumar acts as a core organiser for major multicultural events in Borehamwood, leading local celebrations for Indian Independence Day, Republic Day, Diwali, and Holi.
“From studying Political Science at King’s College London to now serving as Mayor of the town I love, this journey has been truly surreal,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Dan Ozarow, for his “dedicated service to our town over the past year and for all the guidance and support he has given me as Deputy Mayor.”
Kumar also welcomed Councillor Linda Smith, who was newly appointed as the Deputy Mayor, to work alongside him. He explicitly outlined his three-part mayoral agenda: being present in the community, support for local charities, and actively inspiring youth to enter public service.
“It is the privilege of a lifetime to serve the town I love,” he concluded.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: May 18, 2026 4:23 PM IST