List of foreign politicians of Indian origin
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Heads_of_states_of_Indian_descent.png/300px-Heads_of_states_of_Indian_descent.png)
This article contains a list of Wikipedia articles about politicians in countries outside of the Indian subcontinent who are of Indian origin.
Australia
Federal parliament
- Christabel Chamarette – Greens Senator for Western Australia (1992-1996)
- Varun Ghosh – Labor Senator for Western Australia (2024-)
- Zaneta Mascarenhas – Labor MP for Swan (2022-)
- Lisa Singh – Labor Senator for Tasmania (2011-2019)
- Dave Sharma – Liberal MP for Wentworth (2019-2022) and Senator for New South Wales (2023-)
State and territory parliaments
- June D'Rozario – Northern Territory Labor MLA
- Deepak-Raj Gupta – Australian Capital Territory Labor MLA
- Jags Krishnan – Western Australia Labor MLA
- Kevin Michel – Western Australia Labor MLA
- Daniel Mookhey – New South Wales Labor MLC
- Lauren Moss – Northern Territory Labor MLA
- Yaz Mubarakai – Western Australia Labor MLA
- Gurmesh Singh – New South Wales National MP
- Kaushaliya Vaghela – Victoria Labor MLC
- Anne Warner – Queensland Labor MLA
Canada
- Bharat Agnihotri – Alberta Liberal MLA
- Hardial Bains – founder and leader of the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada, 1970–1997
- Harry Bains – British Columbia New Democratic MLA
- Navdeep Bains – Liberal Member of Parliament
- Bardish Chagger - LiberalMember of Parliament
- Bas Balkissoon
- Gulzar Singh Cheema – British Columbia and Manitoba MLA
- Raj Chouhan – British Columbia NDP MLA
- Herb Dhaliwal – Liberal MP; first Indo-Canadian cabinet minister
- Ruby Dhalla – Liberal MP
- Vic Dhillon – Ontario Liberal Ontario MPP
- Ujjal Dosanjh – former Premier of British Columbia; first Indo-Canadian premier; former federal Minister of Health
- Parm Gill – Conservative Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale
- Raminder Gill – former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP and federal Conservative candidate
- Jyoti Gondek – Mayor of Calgary since October 25, 2021
- Baljit Gosal – MP and Minister of State for Sports
- Gurmant Grewal – former Conservative MP, half (with Nina, listed below) of the first married couple to serve as MPs in the same session of Parliament
- Nina Grewal – Conservative MP, half (with Gurmant) of the first married couple to serve as MPs in the same session of Parliament
- Dave Hayer – former British Columbia BC Liberal MLA for Surrey Tynehead
- Bidhu Jha – Manitoba NDP MLA
- Kamal Khera – Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Brampton West and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
- Kuldip Singh Kular – Ontario Liberal MPP
- Harry Lali – BC NDP MLA
- Shuvaloy Majumdar – Conservative MP
- Gurbax Singh Malhi – Liberal MP
- Harinder Malhi – Liberal MP
- Rob Nijjar – former BC Liberal MLA
- Deepak Obhrai – Alberta Conservative Party MP
- Raj Pannu – former leader of the Alberta New Democrats; first Indo-Canadian leader of a political party
- Harjit Singh Sajjan – Member of Parliament representing the riding of Vancouver South and Minister of National Defense
- Randeep Sarai – Member of Parliament for the federal electoral district Surrey Centre
- Shiraz Shariff – Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA
- Moe Sihota – former British Columbia NDP MLA and television host
- Jaggi Singh – anti-globalization activist
- Jagmeet Singh – former NDP MLA for Bramlea- Malton (Ontario); elected leader of the Federal New Democratic Party (NDP); first person of Indian descent to be elected leader of a prominent party at the national level in North America
- Harinder Takhar – Ontario Liberal MPP and Minister of Transportation
- Tim Uppal – Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Edmonton Mill Woods
- Murad Velshi – former Ontario Liberal MPP
- Prasad Panda – UCP MLA for Calgary, Alberta
- Judi Tyabji – Indian(Bengali)-Canadian politician & was the youngest elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from Progressive Democratic Alliance party
- Chandra Arya – Liberal MP from Napean
Fiji
- Mahendra Chaudhry – first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister (1999–2000)
- Ahmed Ali (1938–2005) – several times a cabinet minister
- George Shiu Raj – Cabinet Minister
- Anand Singh – Fiji Labour Party Senator and former Attorney-General
- Vijay R. Singh – former Cabinet Minister
- Sidiq Koya – Leader of the Opposition National Federation Party
- Dorsami Naidu – Leader of the National Federation Party
- A. D. Patel (1905–1969)- founder of the National Federation Party
- Pramod Rae – General Secretary of the National Federation Party
- Jai Ram Reddy – Leader of the National Federation Party (1977–1987; 1992–1999); judge
- Prem Singh – former NFP leader
- Raman Pratap Singh – National Federation Party leader
- Amjad Ali – FLP politician
- Narendra Arjun – former NFP parliamentarian
- Anand Babla – FLP politician
- Pratap Chand – FLP politician
- Gaffar Ahmed – FLP politician
- Gunasagaran Gounder – FLP politician
- Hafiz Khan – businessman and Senator
- James Shri Krishna – FLP politician
- Prince Gopal Lakshman – FLP politician
- Surendra Lal – FLP politician
- Sanjeet Chand Maharaj – FLP politician
- Perumal Mupnar – FLP Member of Parliament
- Shivlal Nagindas – Labasa businessman and former Senator
- Damodaran Nair – FLP Member of Parliament
- Gyani Nand – FLP politician
- Ragho Nand – FLP politician
- Udit Narayan – FLP politician
- Krishna Prasad – FLP Member of Parliament
- Ram Sharan – FLP politician
- Gyan Singh – FLP Member of Parliament
- Pravin Singh – FLP Member of Parliament
- Satendra Singh – FLP politician
- Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi – Fiji Labour Party parliamentarian
Germany
- Ashok-Alexander Sridharan – Mayor of Bonn
Guyana
- Dale Bisnauth
- Ronald Gajraj
- Cheddi Jagan – 4th President of Guyana (1992-1997)
- Bharrat Jagdeo – 7th Prime Minister (1999) and 7th President (1999-2011)
- Samuel Insanally
- Joey Jagan
- Edward Luckhoo
- Lionel Luckhoo – politician, diplomat, and lawyer
- Donald Ramotar – 8th President (2011-2015)
- Moses Nagamootoo – 8th Prime Minister of Guyana (2015-2020)
- Irfaan Ali – 10th President (2020–present)
- Peter Ramsaroop
- Shridath Ramphal – Commonwealth Secretary General (1975-1990)
- Rupert Roopnaraine
Indonesia
- Harbrinderjit Singh Dillon
- Musa "Ijeck" Rajekshah – Vice Governor of North Sumatra (2018-2023)
Ireland
- Leo Varadkar – Taoiseach (2017–2020; 2022-2024)
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
- Chunilal Madan – legislator and Chief Justice of Kenya
- Sunjeev Kour Birdi – Member of Parliament
- Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee – merchant, politician and philanthropist
- Pio Gama Pinto – journalist, politician and freedom fighter
- Fitz Remedios Santana de Souza
Malaysia
- V. David – politician
- K. L. Devaser – fourth president of the Malaysian Indian Congress
- P. Kamalanathan – Member of Parliament Hulu Selangor and Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education; Central Working Committee Member of the Malaysian Indian Congress; founding member of PUTERA MIC
- Datuk M. Kayveas – president of PPP and deputy minister
- Devaki Krishnan – first Malaysian Indian woman to become a municipal councillor
- Tan Sri Devaki Krishnan – former politician
- Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam – sixth president of the Malaysian Indian Congress and former Minister of Communication
- M. Manoharan – former member of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly; known for his involvement with HINDRAF
- K. S. Nijhar – Member of Parliament
- Datuk G. Palanivel – Deputy Minister of Women and Family Development and deputy president of Malaysian Indian Congress
- Tan Sri M. G. Pandithan – founding President of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF)
- K. Parthiban – state assemblyman for Ijok (2007–2008)
- Datuk K. Pathmanaban – politician and former Deputy Minister of Labour and founder of Melaka Manipal Medical College
- Sivarasa Rasiah – human rights lawyer and vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party)
- Tun V. T. Sambanthan – one of the founding fathers of independent Malaya and Founder of National Land Finance Co-op.(NLFCS).
- D. R. Seenivasagam – founder of PPP and politician
- Kula Segaran – MP for Ipoh Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman
- Karpal Singh – chairman of opposition Democratic Action Party and member of parliament
- Datuk K. Sivalingam – former member of the state executive council of Selangor
- John Thivy – freedom fighter and founding president of the Malayan Indian Congress
- E. E. C. Thuraisingham – politician of pre-Independence Malaysia
- Tan Sri G. Vadiveloo – former Speaker of the Senate
- Datuk Seri Samy Vellu – Works Minister in the Malaysian cabinet and president of the Malaysian Indian Congress
Mauritius
- Sookdeo Bissoondoyal – politician and one of the three founding fathers of independent Mauritius
- Dayendranath Burrenchobay – Governor-General of Mauritius (1978-1983)
- Jaya Krishna Cuttaree – diplomat
- Madun Dulloo – diplomat
- Anerood Jugnauth – Prime Minister (2000-2003, 2014-2017) and President of Mauritius (2003-2012)
- Pravind Jugnauth – Prime Minister of Mauritius (2017–present)
- Dev Manraj – former Financial Secretary
- Abdool Razack Mohamed – one of the three founding fathers of independent Mauritius
- Kailash Purryag – President (2012-2015)
- Navin Ramgoolam – Prime Minister (1995-2000, 2005-2014)
- Seewoosagur Ramgoolam – Prime Minister (1968-1982) and one of the three founding fathers of independent Mauritius
- Veerasamy Ringadoo – President (1992)
- Cassam Uteem – President (2002)
- Ameenah Gurib-Fakim – President (2015-2018)
- Prithvirajsing Roopun – President (2019–present)
Netherlands
- Tanja Jadnanansing – Labour Party politician
New Zealand
- Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi – Member of Parliament
- Parmjeet Parmar – Member of Parliament
- Anand Satyanand – first Governor-General of New Zealand of Asian descent (2006-2011)
- Priyanca Radhakrishnan – Member of Parliament
Papua New Guinea
- Sasindran Muthuvel – Governor of West New Britain
Philippines
- Ramon Bagatsing - former Congressman and Mayor of Manila (1972-1986)
Portugal
- Jorge Barreto Xavier (born 1965) - Secretary of State of Culture (2012-2015)
- Kalidás Barreto (1932-2020) - MP for Castanheira de Pera
- António Maria de Bettencourt Rodrigues (1854-1933) - Judge and diplomat
- António Costa (born 1961) – Prime Minister of Portugal (2015-2024)
- Narana Coissoró (born 1933) - Member of Parliament
- Alfredo Bruto da Costa (1938-2016) - Minister of Health and Welfare (1979-1980)
- Alfredo Nobre da Costa (1923-1996) - Prime Minister (1978)
- Francisco Luís Gomes (1829-1869), Member of Português Cortes Gerais for Goa
- João Leão (born 1974) - Finance Minister (2020-2022)
- Jaime Valfredo Rangel (1897-1959) - Diplomat
- Gabriel Mithá Ribeiro (born 1965) - MP for Leiria District
- Rosendo Ribeiro (1871-1951) - Vice-Consul of Portugal in Nairobi
- Otelo Saraiva de Carvalho (1936-2021) - Leader in Portuguese provisional government after the Carnation Revolution
Singapore
- Vivian Balakrishnan – Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports; former CEO of Singapore General Hospital
- S. Dhanabalan – Chairman of Temasek Holdings and DBS Bank, former Minister of National Development, Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs; tipped by Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as one of the four men he considered as a possible successor
- James Gomez – senior leader in the main opposition party (the Workers Party); founder of Think Centre, a political NGO
- S. Iswaran – Minister for Communications and Information, former Managing Director of Temasek Holdings
- S. Jayakumar – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Law and co-ordinating Minister for Security; former Foreign Minister and ambassador to the United Nations, and Dean of the Law School in Singapore
- J. B. Jeyaretnam – former Leader of the Opposition; former MP; first person to break the PAP monopoly in parliament in 1984; former magistrate
- Devan Nair – third President of Singapore (1981–1985), father of the modern trades union movement in Singapore
- Hri Kumar Nair – former MP
- S. R. Nathan – 6th President of Singapore (1999-2011)
- Murali Pillai – MP
- Indranee Rajah – Minister in Prime minister's Office, Senior Counsel of Supreme Court of Singapore
- S. Rajaratnam – former Senior Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Labour and Culture; co-founder of the Peoples Action Party and Association of South East Asian Nations; author of the Singapore Pledge; one of the pioneer leaders of modern Singapore
- Balaji Sadasivan – Junior Minister
- K. Shanmugam – Minister for Home Affairs, former Senior Counsel of Supreme Court of Singapore
- Pritam Singh – Leader of the Opposition and MP
- Halimah Yacob – 8th President of Singapore (2017–2023)
Seychelles
- Wavel Ramkalawan – President of Seychelles (2020–present)
- Satya Naidu- first Hindu member of Seychelles National Assembly.[1]
South Africa
- Yusuf Dadoo – doctor and politician
- Frene Ginwala – former speaker of the National Assembly
- Pregs Govender
- Ronnie Govender
- Ahmed Kathrada – political activist
- Jody Kollapen
- Mac Maharaj – political activist and former MP
- George Naicker
- Monty Naicker
- Amma Naidoo
- Indira Naidoo
- Naransamy Roy Naidoo
- Shanti Naidoo
- Thambi Naidoo
- Xavier Naidoo
- Billy Nair
- Dullah Omar – politician
- Aziz Pahad – political activist and former MP
- Essop Pahad – political activist and former MP
- Radhakrishna Padayachi – Deputy Minister for Communication
- Ebrahim Patel – Minister of Economy
- Enver Surty – Deputy Minister of Basic Education
- Thillaiaadi Valliammai
Spain
- Robert Masih Nahar, senator in the Spanish Senate
Suriname
- Ashwin Adhin – Vice President (2015-2020)[2]
- Jagernath Lachmon – Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname (1987-1996, 2000-2001)
- Marijke Djwalapersad – Speaker of the National Assembly (1996-2000)
- Fred Ramdat Misier – President of Suriname (1982–1988)
- Errol Alibux – Prime Minister of Suriname (1983-1984)
- Pretaap Radhakishun – Prime Minister (1986-1987)
- Chan Santokhi – President (2020–present)
- Ram Sardjoe – Speaker of the National Assembly (2001-2005) and Vice President (2005-2010)
- Ramsewak Shankar – President (1988–1990)
Switzerland
- Nik Gugger – adopted from Karnataka; first Indian-origin members of the Swiss parliament[3]
Tanzania
- Hasnain Dewji
- Mohammed Dewji
- Wolfgang Dourado
- Parmukh Singh Hoogan
- Amir H. Jamal
- Ismail Jussa
- Al Noor Kassum
- Shanif Mansoor
- Hasnain Murji
- Mohamed Raza
- Muhammad Sanya
- Abdulkarim Shah
- Jitu Soni
- Haroun Suleiman
- Shaffin Sumar
Thailand
- Santi Thakral – former president of the Supreme Court of Thailand and former member of the Privy Council of Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
- Raziah Ahmed – President of the Senate (2015)
- Faris Al-Rawi – Attorney General (2015-2022)
- Linda Baboolal – President of the Senate (2002-2007)
- Rudranath Capildeo
- Simbhoonath Capildeo
- Carol Cuffy-Dowlat
- Winston Dookeran
- George F. Fitzpatrick
- Hardeo Hardath – former MP
- Noor Hassanali – President (1987-1997)
- Christine Kangaloo – President (2023-present)
- Franklin Khan
- Fuad Khan
- Dhanayshar Mahabir
- Devant Maharaj
- Ramesh Maharaj
- Kenneth Ramchand
- Bhadase Maraj
- Ralph Maraj
- Wade Mark
- Roodal Moonilal
- Basdeo Panday – Trade Union leader and Prime Minister (1995-2001)
- Kamla Persad-Bissessar – Prime Minister (2010-2015)
- Mohammed Faisal Rahman
- Surujrattan Rambachan
- Anand Ramlogan
- Adrian Cola Rienzi (Krishna Deonarine Tiwari)
- Raffique Shah – Leader of the Opposition
- Cindy Devika Sharma
- Ashford Sinanan
United Kingdom
- Baron Bhattacharyya – Member of the House of Lords
- Ayesha Hazarika, Baroness Hazarika – Member of the House of Lords
- Mancherjee Bhownagree – Conservative MP; second Indian MP in the House of Commons
- Harpal Brar – Chairman of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
- Nirj Deva – Conservative MEP
- Parmjit Dhanda – Labour MP
- Rajani Palme Dutt – General Secretary of the Communist Party
- Piara Khabra – Labour MP
- Ashok Kumar – Labour MP
- Claude Moraes – Labour MEP
- Dadabhai Naoroji – Liberal MP; first Indian MP in the House of Commons
- Priti Patel – Conservative MP; Home Secretary (2019–2022)
- Shapurji Saklatvala – Communist MP
- Virendra Sharma – Labour MP
- Alok Sharma – Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Marsha Singh – Labour MP
- Parmjit Singh Gill – Liberal Democrat MP
- Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha – first Indian member of the House of Lords
- Rishi Sunak – Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party (2022–2024)
- Shailesh Vara – Conservative MP
- Keith Vaz – Labour MP; longest-serving British Asian MP; former Minister for Europe and Privy Council member
United States
- Nimi McConigley – Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives was the first Indian born person and the first Indian American women to serve in any State legislature.
- Harry Anand – mayor of Laurel Hollow, New York; first Indian-American mayor in New York
- Neel Kashkari – Republican politician and former Gubernatorial candidate in California
- Niraj J. Antani – Republican member of Ohio House of Representatives from Ohio's 42nd District; first Indian American Republican elected to the Ohio House
- Sam Arora – former Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates
- Kumar P. Barve – Democratic member (and former Majority Leader) of the Maryland House of Delegates from Maryland's 17th Legislative District in Montgomery County; first Indian American to be elected to any state legislature
- Ami Bera – Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 7th congressional district – former Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County
- Raj Peter Bhakta – entrepreneur, former The Apprentice contestant, and 2006 Republican U.S. House nominee in Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district
- Ravinder S. Bhalla – mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, first Sikh mayor in NJ
- Satveer Chaudhary – former state senator and representative in Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives
- Joy Cherian – first Asian and Indian American head of the EEOC
- Upendra Chivukula – Commissioner on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; former Democratic member and Deputy Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly (first Indian-American elected to the NJ state legislature)
- Swati Dandekar – member of Iowa House of Representatives
- Bhagwan Dashairya – 2006 nominee for Governor of Michigan of the U.S. Taxpayers Party
- Manka Dhingra – Democratic member of the Washington State Senate from Washington's 45th legislative district
- Kashmir Gill – mayor of Yuba City, California; first Indian-American mayor in CA and first Sikh mayor in the US
- Vin Gopal – Democratic member of the New Jersey Senate from New Jersey's 11th Legislative District, which covers portions of Monmouth County; third Indian American elected to NJ state legislature and first Indian American NJ state senator; former Chairman of the Monmouth County Democratic Party
- Raj Goyle – former Democratic member of the Kansas House of Representatives from Kansas' 87th District; first Indian American elected official in that state
- Nikki Haley – former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of South Carolina; first Indian American to hold both offices and first female Governor of South Carolina
- Kamala Harris – 49th Vice President of the United States (first Indian American; first African American; and first female Vice President of the U.S.); former United States Senator from the State of California (first Indian American in the U.S. Senate and first African American senator from California); 32nd Attorney General of California (first Indian American attorney general in the U.S.) and the 27th District Attorney of San Francisco (first district attorney in the U.S. of Indian descent)
- Satish Hiremath – mayor of Oro Valley, Arizona; second Indian-American mayor in the US
- Pramila Jayapal – Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 7th Congressional District; former member of the Washington State Senate; first Indian American woman in both offices; founder of OneAmerica, a pro-immigration advocacy group
- Bobby Jindal – former Republican Governor of Louisiana (first Indian American governor in US history); former member of U.S. House of Representatives; former U.S. presidential candidate
- Ro Khanna – Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 17th Congressional District, former Deputy Assistant at the U.S. Department of Commerce
- Kris Kolluri – New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation
- Raja Krishnamoorthi – Democratic Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 8th Congressional District
- Aruna Miller – Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, former member of the Maryland House of Delegates
- Raj Mukherji – Majority Whip and Democratic member of the New Jersey General Assembly from New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District covering portions of Hudson County (second Indian American elected to NJ state legislature); former Deputy Mayor of Jersey City, NJ; former Commissioner and Chairman of the Jersey City Housing Authority (then the youngest to serve in that position)
- Ajit Pai – Chairman of the FCC and first Indian American to hold that position
- Rachel Paulose – first woman to become a U.S. Attorney in Minnesota; US Attorney for the District of Minnesota
- Kesha Ram – four-term member of the Vermont House of Representatives; candidate for Lieutenant Governor
- Harpreet Singh Sandhu – former Richmond City Council member
- Reshma Saujani – first Indian woman to run for Congress
- Amish Shah – member of the Arizona House of Representatives
- Balvir Singh – on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, New Jersey; first Asian-American to win a countywide election in Burlington County; first Sikh-American to win a countywide election in NJ[4]
- Dalip Singh Saund – first Indian-American congressman; Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California
- Kshama Sawant – Seattle City Council member; first socialist to win a city-wide election in Seattle since the radical progressive Anna Louise Strong was elected to the school board in 1916
- Kevin Thomas – first Indian-American member of the New York State Senate
- Seema Verma – first Indian-American female administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Sara Gideon - Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
- Suhas Subramanyam - first Indian-American elected to the Virginia General Assembly and former Obama Administration White House official
See also
- List of heads of state and government of Indian origin
- List of foreign politicians of Armenian origin
- List of foreign politicians of Chinese descent
- List of foreign politicians of Iranian origin
- List of foreign politicians of Japanese origin
- List of foreign politicians of Korean origin
- List of foreign politicians of Pakistani origin
- List of foreign politicians of Vietnamese origin
References
- ^ Devirupa Mitra. "Interview: 'Not in Favour of Any Foreign Military Base': Seychelles' First Hindu MP Sathya Naidu". The Wire. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Live blog: Verkiezing president en vicepresident Suriname". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ Man adopted from Karnataka becomes first Indian-origin MP in Switzerland, Hindustan Times, 18 Jan 2018.
- ^ Hefler, Jan. "Race-baiting ads backfired, says Sikh who broke barriers in South Jersey freeholder race", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 8, 2017. Accessed December 2, 2017.