‘A proud moment for us,’ says Dalit body after Midha’s election; she represents the Labour Party.

'A proud moment for us,' says Dalit body after Midha's election; she represents the Labour Party.

File photo of Mohinder K Midha | Twitter/@SantoshDass1048

New Delhi: Indian-origin politician Mohinder K Midha from UK’s Opposition Labour Party has become the first woman mayor of a local London council from the Dalit community.

Midha was elected mayor of west London’s Ealing Council for 2022-23 at a meeting Tuesday. She earlier served as the deputy mayor.

“We are so proud that Councillor Mohinder Midha has been elected Mayor of Ealing for the next year,” the Labour Party in Ealing said in a statement. According to the ‘Who Can I Vote for UK’, which is an official government website, Midha won with 2,272 votes.

Midha’s election is being celebrated by the British Dalit community as a proud moment.

“The first ever Dalit woman mayor in the UK. A proud moment for us,” said Santosh Dass, chair of the Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK, an umbrella group representing Dalit rights in the country.

Duly elected in the last 5 minutes Mrs Mohinder K. Midha as #Mayor of #Ealing for 22/23. The first ever #Dalit #woman mayor in the #UK. A proud moment for us. @meenakandasamy @Profdilipmandal @nitinmeshram_ @aparna_banerji @Mayawati @BhimArmyChief @Raj_Ambedkar @RajBangarBallan pic.twitter.com/t5jozxsfvc

— Santosh Dass (@SantoshDass1048) May 24, 2022

The issues which Midha campaigned for included tackling the cost of living, recovering from the pandemic, fixing social care and making the council more open, transparent, and inclusive.

London Councils represents its 32 boroughs and the City of London. Many councils have a civic mayor or chairman. They carry out ceremonial duties and chair meetings, but can’t make decisions about council business.