It goes without saying that Asians have an integral part in the contemporary British society, and with the number of Asian MPs candidates preparing to be a part of the 2015 elections in May, it only reiterates the importance Asians have, especially when it comes to voting. This year, there are 19 Asians representing the Conservatives, 28 representing Labours and 12 representing Liberal Democrats. Asian Voice brings you the list of candidates with their summary to help you decide who to vote for on 7th May 2015. In 2010 general election the number of ethnic minority MPs increased from 14 to 27, out of which 19 were Asians. It is important to understand and acknowledge who are contesting while choosing who to vote for, as voting shouldn't be taken lightly nor done at the spur of the moment.
Parliamentary Prospective Candidates
Conservative Party
Kishan Devani- Leicester East
Kishan Devani vows to stand up for hard-working families, and work to create better opportunities for parents and their children alike.
Chamali Fernando- Cambridge
Chamali first started to think about politics while studying A' Level in politics at Cambridge Seminars; wanting to give back to the community that inspired her.
Nusrat Ghani- Wealden
Nusrat was the first woman in her family to go to University and gained a Masters in International Relations from Leeds University.
Altaf Hussain- Swansea East
If elected, he will work tirelessly for the people of Swansea East and will bring his experience to bear in fighting hard for a better service.
Ranil Jaywardena- North East Hampshire
Ranil Jaywardena is an alumnus of the LSE and is a Fellow of the RSA; he has a useful insight into today’s economic challenges.
Resham Kotecha- Dulwich and West Norwood
Resham aims to ensure every child in the constituency has access to a place at a great school, attract infrastructure and development without compromising the charm and greenery of the constituency.
Seema Kennedy- South Ribble
Seema would defend the rights of older people so they can enjoy security and dignity after a lifetime of hard work.
Mina Rahman-Barking
Mina Rahman wants to protect the welfare of the elderly people in Barking because they are an asset to our community.
Suhail Rahuja- Hornsey and Wood Green
Suhail will focus on job creation, business investment and he will work hard to make sure that small businesses thrive.
Gurcharan Singh- Slough
As Mayor for the London Borough of Ealing, he has raised money for multiple charities.
Rishi Sunak- Richmond (Yorks)
If elected, he shall champion the people of Richmond (Yorks), listening to their concerns and fighting for their interests.
Azi Ahmed- Rochdale
A former member of the British Army, Azi Ahmed works for a homeless charity and volunteering as School Governor. for a homeless charity and
Afzal Amin- Dudley North
Afzal Amin was an officer in the British Army for 11 years, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He aims to stand up for you and your family- both in the community and at Westminster.
Current MPs
Sajid Javid- MP for Bromsgrove
Sajid, at the age of 24, went on to become the youngest Vice President in the history of Chase Manhattan Bank.
Priti Patel- MP for Witham
Priti is the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and PM Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion. Before embarking on a career in public affairs and communications, Priti worked in the Conservative Research Department.
Alok Sharma- MP for Reading West
Alok is also Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India
Paul Uppal- MP for Wolverhampton South West
Since having been elected in 2010, Paul has stood up for residents across the constituency by championing the causes that matter.
Shailesh Vara- MP for North West Cambridgeshire
Shailesh is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for the Courts and Legal Aid. Before his election to Parliament, he was Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2001 to 2005.
Rehman Chishti MP for Gillingham and RainhamChishti is a Member of the Justice Select Committee of the House of Commons, having previously been a Member of the Joint Committee of the Human Rights Committee. In July 2014, he was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to Nick Gibb, the Minister of State for Education.
Labour Party
Anawar Miah- Welwyn, Hatfield
Anawar previously sat on the Access to the Bar Committee of the General Council of the Bar.
Sachin Patel- Richmond Park
Sachin Patel is a 26 year old man who has been a member of USDAW, the trade union from the age of 16.
Purna Sen- Brighton, Pavilion
Purna’s work has covered various aspects of discrimination and inequality, in the UK and beyond.
Manjinder Singh Kang- Cotswold
Manjinder, 27 is a Trainee Solicitor and is due to qualify as a Solicitor in early February 2015.He studied for his undergraduate law degree and post-graduate in Nottingham.
Sam Juthani-Henley
Sam studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at St Edmund Hall, Oxford focusing on economics.
Sundip Meghani- Harborough, Oadby and Wigston
He was elected as a Councillor in 2011 and subsequently served as a Board Member of the Leicestershire Police Authority.
Bilal Mahmood- Chingford and Woodford Green
Bilal has developed mentoring programmes, focusing on those from disadvantaged backgrounds including his old school.
Uma Kumaran- Harrow East
Uma works for a pioneering inner city Council implementing some of the Labour’s flagship policies that are making a real difference to everyday lives.
Amanjit Jhund- East Dunbartonshire
Whilst at University, Amanjit became the 1st UK national and 2nd person in the world to be accepted to study Hepatology at Harvard Medical School.
Rupa Huq- Ealing Central and Acton
Rupa attended Cambridge University where she first joined labour in 1991 and campaigned in the general election the following year.
Tulip Siddiq- Hampstead and Kilburn
Tulip also oversaw Camden’s engagement with the 2012 London Olympics.
Amina Lone- Morecambe and Lunesdale
Amina Lone was selected as Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Morecambe and Lunesdale.
Azhar Ali- Pendle
Azhar Ali is currently cabinet member for member for health and wellbeing on Lancashire County Council.
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi- Gravesham
Tanmanjeet studied Mathematics with Management Studies at University College London, before studying Applied Statistics at Keble College, Oxford University.
Naushabah Khan- Rochester Strood
Naushabah first started campaigning when she studied History at the University of Birmingham.
Charanjeet Singh- South West Devon
Being involved in the retail sector in a close knit community helped Charanjeet to become 'a people person' and a good listener who is able to point people in the right direction when they need advice and guidance.
Bally Singh- Kenilworth and Southam
Bally Singh has been a strong voice and leader for many campaigns during his time as a ward councillor.
Current MPs
Seema Malhotra- MP for Feltham and Heston.
Seema is the Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls. Since becoming an MP, Seema has campaigned locally on support for small businesses, tackling unemployment, improving public health and civic engagement.
Shabana Mahmood- MP for Birmingham Ladywood.
Shabana made history in becoming one of the first Muslim women, and one of the first Asian women, to be elected to Parliament.
Virendra Sharma- MP for Ealing and Southall.
During his time in Parliament, Virendra has served as a member of the International Development Select Committee.
Anas Sarwar- MP for Glasgow Central.
Anas has been a campaigning member of the Scottish Labour Party since the age of 16.
Khalid Mahmood- MP for Birmingham, Perry Barr.
In Parliament, Khalid has held a number of positions including PPS to Tony McNulty MP and as a member of the Home Affairs Committee.
Rushanara Ali- MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.
Elected as the Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow at the UK General Election in May 2010.
Sadiq Khan- MP for Tooting
Sadiq Khan is the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. In 2013, Sadiq Khan was also appointed as Shadow Minister for London.
Keith Vaz- MP for Leicester East
Keith Vaz is the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee. He was first elected in June 1987 and has been re-elected as a Member of Parliament 6 times. He was the first person of Asian origin to sit in the House of Commons since 1922.
Lisa Nandy MP for WiganLisa was appointed to the Education Select Committee on 12 July 2010 and was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Shadow Cabinet Minister for the Olympics, Tessa Jowell, in October 2010. In 2012, she was made shadow junior education minister after the reshuffle triggered by the resignation of Peter Hain.Valerie Vaz, MP for WalsallValerie was a councillor in the London borough of Ealing from 1986 to 1990, and the council's Deputy Leader from 1988 to 1989. In June 2010 she was selected as a Labour member of the Health Select Committee. She is also Vice Chairwoman of the Labour Parliamentary Party, having been elected by fellow Labour MPs.
Liberal Democrats
Harrish Bisnauthsing- Grantham and Stanford
Harrish Bisnauthsing is well-known as a local councillor, having been elected to Stamford Town Council in 1987.
Zuffar Haq- Harborough
Health Campaigner, Zuffar Haq has been selected to stand for Harborough Constituency in the general elections.
Parmjit Singh Gill- Leicester South
In 2004, Parmjit Singh Gill became the first Liberal Democrat Mp from an ethnic minority in a 21% swing from labout (BBC News).
Prince Sadik Chaudhury- North Northamptonshire
Sadik is a local businessman and former Northampton Borough Councillor. While he was studying at the University of Northampton to become a Barrister, his interests in politics prevailed.
Amna Ahmad- Streatham
Amna has recently worked on projects to encourage children to be more physically active and healthy and to increase public awareness of local health services.
Shas Sheehan- Wimbledon
In 2010 Shas was the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Wimbledon, fighting a tremendous campaign against the proposed closure of Kingston Hospital’s A&E, maternity and children’s services.
Pramod Subbaraman- Edinburgh South
Pramod studied For his Dental Degree in Bengaluru (1996-2001) and moved to the UK in 2005 following Professor Raman Bedi's invitation to Indian dentists in 2004 to help ease the NHS shortage in England at that time.
Sanjay Samani- Angus
Sanjay was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Angus at the 2010 General Election, where he ran a campaign focussed on the concerns of local people.
Reetendra Nath Banerji- Salisbury
Reetendra Nath Banerji is a self-employed Management Consultant specialising in Change Management.
Abdul Malik- Bristol East.
Born in Bristol, Abdul started off in business aged just 17 and was elected as Bristol’s first ever Asian/Muslim Councillor in 2005.
Mohammad Ilyas- Halifax
Mohammad joined the Liberal Democrats in 2002 and has never been a member of any other party.
Aqila Choudhry- Leeds North East
Aqila is currently a voluntary sector representative at the strategic boards of Leeds City Council and a board member at Leeds HealthWatch and Complex Needs Board of Leeds City Council.
