To Delhi, In Boris’s Boots

Can the next UK PM create another version of the Modi-Johnson chemistry?

- Sanjaya Baru

Early next week Britain’s Conservative Party will decide who would lead the next government in London. No election since that of Clement Atlee in 1945, defeating the wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, has generated as much public interest in India. The reason for this is clearly the fact that one of the contenders, Rishi Sunak, is a person of Indian origin and that too son-in-law of one of India’s most respected business leaders, Infosys founder, NR Narayana Murthy.

Many within the current regime in New Delhi seem to prefer the victory of a ‘true blue’ Brit, Liz Truss, for reasons we wrote about in an earlier column (‘Rishi, Kamala aur Hum’, TOI, July 13). However, a large majority of the Indian public would be disappointed if Sunak does not make it. He even topped up his Indian credentials with the worship of a well-fed English cow.

Irrespective of who wins the Conservative Party vote, the successor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson will have to tread carefully in dealing with India.

● If Sunak wins, there would be unrealistic expectations in India of what he could do, while in Britain there would be deep suspicion of what he would.