The first non-white and Hindu to occupy No. 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his new British colleague Rishi Sunak his “warmest congratulations” on Monday.
“Herzlichen Glückwunsch, @RishiSunak! I look forward to working closely with you as UK PM as we execute Roadmap 2030 on global concerns. Happy Diwali to the “living bridge” of Indians in the UK as we continue with our contemporary partnership, “PM Modi tweeted.
Mr. Sunak’s win occurred on the day when Hindus all around the world celebrate the beginning of the five-day festival of Diwali, which honors the triumph of good over evil.
Thus, Mr. Sunak pulled off a surprising turn of events just weeks after losing out to Liz Truss for the leader of the ruling Tories.
After Boris Johnson abruptly withdrew, Penny Mordaunt was left as the only challenger. However, she could not garner the required 100 nominations from her fellow MPs.
Senior backbencher Graham Brady said, “Rishi Sunak is thus chosen as leader of the Conservative party,” while Mordaunt vowed to give Sunak her “full support.”
Following the news, Mr. Sunak is said to have addressed party members privately to a rousing response.
“It’s a significant occasion that he becomes the first British Asian — indeed the first from any minority ethnic background — to become prime minister,” said Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of Scotland.
