Former Gurkha Captain Bhim Saru Magar Elected Mayor in the UK

Photo: Nepal Britain Chamber of Commerce and Industry

KATHMANDU: Former British Gurkha Captain Bhim Saru Magar, a Nepali-origin politician, has been elected as the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough in the United Kingdom.

Representing the ruling Labour Party, Saru secured 20 votes in the council’s annual mayoral election. His closest competitor, Will Markham, received 15 votes, while four councillors were absent during the voting. The Labour Party holds 19 seats, the Conservatives 17, and the Green Party 2 on the council.

Mayor Saru took his oath of office and secrecy during the plenary meeting. Speaking afterward, he thanked the council and the residents of the borough for the opportunity to serve. “It is a matter of pride for all Nepalis,” he said, reflecting on his journey from rural Palpa, Nepal, to a leadership role in the UK.

Saru, who served nearly 30 years in the British Army’s Royal Engineers, retired as a Garrison Engineer before starting a business and entering politics. He was elected as a councillor last year and has now become the first Nepali-origin mayor in the borough’s history, with support from the Green Party.

Home to around 3,000 Gurkha and Nepali residents, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough also honors the Gurkha regiment with a memorial at nearby Bramcote Barracks. Saru has pledged to work for the welfare of all communities and to share his experiences with Nepal to inspire leadership back home.