London, July 12 (UNI) Two candidates out of the eight who have made the cut for Wednesday’s first round ballot in the ruling Conservative party’s leadership contest, are of Indian origin – Rishi Sunak and Suella Fernandes Braverman. The final outcome of this race will throw up Britain’s next Prime Minister.
A total of 11 contestants had entered the fray. But Sajid Javid and Rehman Chishti, both of Pakistani descent, who had thrown their hats into the ring, failed to secure the support of 20 fellow MPs – a pre-condition to proceed further in the competition.
Oth- ers among the eight who made the short-list were former Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt, and Kemi Badenoch, who is of Nigerian extraction and was a minister of state in the outgoing government.