On May 22, Indian-origin Councillor Sameer Pandey was chosen as the new Lord Mayor of the City of Parramatta Council in Sydney. His appointment to the position fell on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sydney on a two-day visit at the Australian counterpart’s invitation, which concluded on May 23. Sameer Pandey is hopeful to witness India and Australia relations “grow further” under the leadership of PM Modi.
He stated that it was an honour to serve as the Lord Mayor of the council for one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, “The City of Parramatta is the geographical heart of Greater Sydney and a major economic powerhouse as well as the best place in Sydney to live”.
He added, “Parramatta is home to a vibrant and diverse community, and I’m excited to lead the City as it cements itself as Sydney’s second CBD (central business district) and the focus of some of its most exciting opportunities”.
Who’s Sameer Pandey?
Lord Mayor Pandey comes from an IT background and runs a small business. In 2017, he entered politics and was elected to the council.
Then in 2022, he was appointed as the City’s first Deputy Lord Mayor from the Indian subcontinent. In 2023, he was elected as the Lord Mayor of Parramatta. This position was earlier held by Donna Davis, who is recently elected as the State Member for Parramatta in Australia’s New South Wales state.
After assuming the office, Pandey will have a lot of work on his hand, including some major projects such as the aquatic centre, town hall and Riverside Theatre redevelopments.
As per his campaign promises, he will start working on the healthcare and education system to provide better care to senior citizens and give opportunities to the youth.
Although the migration of Indians to Australia started in the 19th century, in the 1990s, it gained momentum. Indian immigrants from various Indian states and regions have settled all over Australia, bringing a diverse range of languages, religions, and ethnicities. Australia’s vibrant diversity is woven into the country’s multicultural fabric by the Indian diaspora.
This is not the first time an Indian origin has achieved such a great feat in foreign countries. Recently, Indian-Origin politician Daniel Mookhey was sworn in as Treasurer. He is a member of the Labour Party. Mookhey became the first Australian to take oath on Bhagavad Gita.
In Ireland, Leo Eric Varadkar was elected as the Taoiseach of Ireland in 2022. Earlier, he was the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment till December 2022. Taoiseach is the head of the government or Prime Minister, and Tánaiste is the deputy head of the government.
In the UK, the current Prime Minister is Rishi Sunak. He replaced Liz Truss last year in October 2022. Sunak comes from the Conservative party.
