Lucknow-born Rukhsar wins councillor poll in UK

Lucknow: In a proud moment for the city, a 28-year-old Lucknow-born solicitor, Rukhsar Hasan Askari, has won the councillor election from Sutton Ward in London, securing a convincing victory on the ticket of the Liberal Democrats.Rukhsar polled 1,593 votes, comfortably defeating her nearest rival from the Green Party, who secured 448 votes. Her victory is being seen as a reflection of her growing popularity and grassroots outreach among residents.Born and raised in Lucknow, Rukhsar completed her schooling from La Martiniere College, where she was known for balancing academics with sports activities, particularly swimming competitions.She moved to London in 2012 to pursue higher education in law at the University of Westminster. After qualifying as a solicitor in 2018, she began working in the legal sector and soon became actively involved in community welfare issues, particularly those concerning women, immigrants and vulnerable groups.Speaking to TOI over phone from London, Rukhsar said she drew inspiration from PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath for building their political identities through hard work and perseverance."They started from scratch and created a place for themselves through dedication and public service. That has always inspired me," she said, adding that she now hopes to contest for Parliament in the future.Rukhsar said her legal work exposed her to issues such as domestic violence, immigration struggles and social discrimination faced by Asian and Black communities in Britain."As a solicitor, I often provided free legal advice and assistance to people facing domestic abuse and immigration-related issues. That strengthened my resolve to work for society and enter public life," she said.She revealed that she was initially associated with the Conservative Party but later shifted to the Liberal Democrats, saying the party aligned more closely with her social welfare-oriented approach."The Liberal Democrats work hard at the grassroots level and focus on people's issues first," she said.During her campaign, Rukhsar said she focused on civic concerns such as parking problems, women's safety, miscarriage support systems and domestic violence awareness.She credited her husband, chef Ronny Paes, and her mother Abida for supporting her throughout the election campaign, especially while balancing family responsibilities and public outreach."My mother took care of my son Roger while I campaigned and met residents across the constituency," she said.Back in Lucknow, family members and relatives celebrated her victory, calling it a proud achievement for the city. Her uncle, Hasan Rizvi, said Rukhsar remained deeply connected to her roots and continued to actively engage in social causes despite living abroad for over a decade.