“All my appeals for help and support fell on deaf ears”
As the 2026 local elections near, there has been a noticeable increase in candidates of South Asian heritage standing for Reform UK.
Primarily associated with anti-immigration policies, the number of candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds suggests a challenge to established electoral patterns.
Reform is now appealing directly to minority voters on platforms of free enterprise, community security, and controlled migration.
There is speculation over whether these candidates are primarily strategic appointments designed to broaden the party’s electoral appeal.
However, examining their political backgrounds and publicly stated motivations reveals a cohort driven by highly personal experiences and distinct ideological convictions.
Exploring exactly what motivates these individuals offers a clearer picture of Reform UK’s evolving demographic footprint.
Ayesha Shamim
In Leeds, Ayesha Shamim is contesting the Hunslet & Riverside ward, driven by profound personal grievances with the British state.
Fluent in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, and English, she frames her political awakening around a harrowing recent history.
In her public statement to voters ahead of the May 2026 elections, Shamim revealed she battled cancer and domestic abuse over the past two years, feeling entirely abandoned by public services.
“All my appeals for help and support fell on deaf ears”, she explained, adding that she was “failed by the system and the Government”.
Shamim insists her candidacy focuses on ensuring others avoid a similar fate. She outlines a direct goal to “improve and speed the system” and ultimately “Make UK great again”.
Addy Mo Asaduzzaman
Standing in the Central Southsea ward in Portsmouth, 23-year-old Addy Mo Asaduzzaman inadvertently became the centre of a bitter national debate regarding foreign nationals in British politics.
Originally arriving in the UK from Bangladesh on a student visa, Asaduzzaman focuses heavily on localised issues.
According to his campaign launch, he is “ready to stand up for his community with Reform UK” by tackling his ward’s high density of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) alongside a severe lack of open green space.
His selection immediately provoked an ugly backlash from hardline right-wing factions and Reform’s own supporters online, who aggressively questioned his eligibility and demanded his deportation.
Local Reform group leader Councillor George Madgwick swiftly defended Asaduzzaman against the party’s own voter base.
Madgwick championed him as a highly qualified, tax-paying professional who represents successful integration.
Sajjad Raja
Professor Sajjad Raja brings a complicated political history to the Reform ticket as he contests the Moortown ward in Leeds.
A highly educated social and political figure, Raja previously stood as a Conservative candidate during the 2023 local elections.
Outlining his specific reasons for defecting to Farage’s movement, he stated plainly:
“I support Reform UK because I want to fix the broken Britain and I stand with Nigel Farage because he is the only man who can clear up the mess now.”
His candidacy recently descended into controversy following the unearthing of a 2024 video.
The footage showed Raja chanting the highly contested “from the river to the sea” slogan at a Workers Party of Britain demonstration, prompting an ongoing internal party investigation.
Visalakshi Borpatla
Visalakshi Borpatla represents Hounslow West, which has a strong Reform UK representation among British Asians.
The ward has Councillor Bandna Chopra, who joined Reform UK after leaving Labour.
She was a Labour councillor for 12 years and had been a party member for two decades.
Prabhdeep Singh, Chair of Hounslow Reform, welcomed her decision, saying:
“The Labour Party promised to bring change to the country and to the local councils… feel they have failed, I feel they have not delivered on the services that they promised to deliver for local residents.
“I feel that Reform is a party that can take on the challenge.”
Borpatla is not the only British Asian Reform candidate representing Hounslow West.
Both Ravinder Singh and Gobind Verma are also vying for votes.
Savitha Prakash
Dr Savitha Prakash is a Reform UK candidate in Wealdstone South in the Harrow local election.
She is an NHS doctor who believes there are similarities between Reform leader Nigel Farage and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
She said: “He’s [Modi] one of those people, like Nigel, he walks the talk. He made [a] difference to the country.”
In particular, Dr Prakash said the pair, who have both been accused by their critics of scapegoating marginalised communities, were focused on putting the needs of the majority first.
She added: “There was a time before [Modi] came into power that minority appeasement was normal.
“Everybody believed that if you want to be in power, you have to appease the minority. Today’s Nigel speaks the same thing [as Modi]. He speaks about looking out for the majority.”
People from Every Background Supporting Change in Harrow — with Young Reformers Setting the Stage#ReformUK#OneHarrow #ReformHarrow #NewGeneration pic.twitter.com/2hx2L4MqPj
— Savitha Prakash (@SavvyPrakash) January 24, 2026
Dr Prakash, a first-generation immigrant born in India, said this alignment in political outlook was one of several factors behind growing support among British Indians for Reform UK.
Other Candidates
Reform UK is deploying a wide network of South Asian candidates beyond these high-profile figures, a trend particularly visible within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
This Labour-dominated borough features a remarkably diverse Reform slate heavily populated by local business owners.
Fuad Ashraf, the director of a Dagenham-based cleaning service, is standing in the Chadwell Heath ward alongside Muhammad Hamza.
Ramesh Babu Boddukola, a local company director, is contesting the Whalebone ward.
Ripon Sheikh is on the borough ballot in Parsloes, while Manjeet Nandra campaigns in Goresbrook.
Sunil Idiculla secured his nomination in the Heath ward with the direct backing of the local Reform branch leadership.
Elsewhere, Fatima Hussein is representing Brighstone, Calbourne & Shalfleet, while Shadman Zaman is standing for Pilkington Park.
Muhammed Sharia is a Reform UK candidate for Ventnor & St Lawrence, Isle of Wight.
Salman Anwar campaigns in St Andrews & Docklands while Namrata Shah is a candidate for Kenton East.
The borough of Harrow has a large number of British Asian candidates.
In the Rayners Lane ward, Dr Dinesh Kannan is representing Reform. Meanwhile, in Roxeth, Jyothy Elsa James is a candidate.
Rajni Patel and Namrata Shah are candidates for Kenton East.
North Harrow is being represented by Sagar Shukla. Pinner South will see Vijay Singh stand as a candidate
Dr Magan Tapu Kanjia is standing for Headstone.
The May 7 local elections expose a fascinating evolution within Reform UK.
Recruiting candidates like Shamim, Asaduzzaman, and Raja shows Reform UK actively trying to prove its message transcends racial and ethnic boundaries.
These individuals articulate distinct, personal motivations rooted in civic duty, profound frustration with public services, and a fierce belief in overhauling a broken political system.
They are clearly standing on their own terms rather than serving as passive electoral tokens to win minority votes.
As the party attempts to capture multicultural urban constituencies, it must navigate the deeply ingrained prejudices of voters who fundamentally resist the changing demographic face of British conservatism.
Loading ...
