Shivani Raja, a 29-year-old Gujarati businesswoman of Indian descent, made history by swearing her oath on Bhagavad Gita in the UK Parliament. Her unexpected victory in the Leicester East seat, a long-standing Labour Party bastion, surprised many.

The newly elected UK MP expressed her honor at representing Leicester East, taking her oath of allegiance on the Bhagavad Gita. “It was an honor 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,” shared Shivani on X.

Raja's victory in Leicester East broke the Labour Party's 37-year dominance in the constituency. She secured 14,526 votes, while Labour's Rajesh Agrawal came in second with 10,100 votes, and the Liberal Democrats' Zuffar Haq placed third with 6,329 votes, according to the BBC. Other candidates for the seat included Claudia Webbe and Keith Vaz.

oath on Bhagavad Gita
Image Source: LinkedIn

Upholding Cultural Values: The Oath on Bhagavad Gita by Shivani Raja

Claudia Webbe ran as an independent candidate, while Keith Vaz represented the One Leicester party. For the first time in 37 years, the constituency elected a Conservative MP. Following the results of the UK elections on July 7, 2024, MP Shivani Raja emphasized the need for change. She acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed her commitment to transforming the city. The newly elected MP said, “It indeed is time for a change, and that change is Leicester turning blue.”

According to The Guardian, in 2022, serious clashes erupted between the Hindu and Muslim communities in the UK. What began as a march with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' during the weekend before the Queen's funeral quickly escalated into a conflict between the religious groups on Belgrave Road.

Born in Leicester in 1994, Shivani Raja is the daughter of a Kenyan-Gujarati father and a mother from Rajkot. She earned a degree in pharmaceutical and cosmetic science from De Montfort University and has worked with prominent cosmetics brands in England. Additionally, she is actively involved in her family's property and hospitality businesses. 

Raja has strengthened her ties with the British-Indian community by participating in traditional events and visiting temples, highlighting her Indian heritage. Raja aims to improve local infrastructure, foster community cohesion, support local businesses, and adopt a stricter approach to illegal immigration, aligning with the policies of former PM Rishi Sunak.

You might also be interested in -Speaker amends Lok Sabha rules after MPs raise ‘Jai Palestine’, ‘Jai Hindu Rashtra’ slogans during oath