In many ways, Uday Nagaraju (55) fits the Telugu diaspora stereotype. He is a computer engineer who worked hard to build a career for himself on foreign shores and is deeply interested in the impact of artificial intelligence on life. But he also does not fit the stereotype. He is among the very few in the UK’s Telugu diaspora who has dabbled in politics.
Nagaraju will be Labour’s candidate from North Bedfordshire in UK general elections. “Only a Labour govt can deliver the change that North Bedfordshire needs. I will give voice to the hard-working people of this community,” he told TOI over phone. His family hails from Shanigaram village in Telangana’s Siddipet district. His father is deceased and his mother and sister live in Hyderabad.
Nagaraju has a tough battle on his hands. North Bedfordshire has for years been a Conservative bastion. But in the past decade its demography has started to change with the arrival of a large number of South Asian immigrants. The govt website shows that Luton, the biggest city in the region, has seen a 51% increase in people of Bangladeshi origin and those of Pakistani origin have increased by 40% between 2011 and 2021. The Indian community there has remained largely stable at a little more than 5%. Indians have traditionally voted Labour, though studies have shown a growing shift towards Conservatives in recent years.
Nagaraju will be Labour’s candidate from North Bedfordshire in UK general elections. “Only a Labour govt can deliver the change that North Bedfordshire needs. I will give voice to the hard-working people of this community,” he told TOI over phone. His family hails from Shanigaram village in Telangana’s Siddipet district. His father is deceased and his mother and sister live in Hyderabad.
Nagaraju has a tough battle on his hands. North Bedfordshire has for years been a Conservative bastion. But in the past decade its demography has started to change with the arrival of a large number of South Asian immigrants. The govt website shows that Luton, the biggest city in the region, has seen a 51% increase in people of Bangladeshi origin and those of Pakistani origin have increased by 40% between 2011 and 2021. The Indian community there has remained largely stable at a little more than 5%. Indians have traditionally voted Labour, though studies have shown a growing shift towards Conservatives in recent years.