Indian-origin Rishi Sunak in race for next UK PM after Boris Johnson agrees to resign

Rishi Sunak, whose resignation as the Chancellor of the exchequer triggered a series of resignations against Boris Johnson, is believed to be the contender for next UK Prime Minister.

If it happens, he will be first Indian origin man to be the Prime Minister of UK.

Who is Rishi Sunak

• Rishi Sunak, 42, was chosen by Boris Johnson and appointed as the Chancellor of the Exchequer in February 2020. It was his first full cabinet position.
• Due to his wife's non-dom tax status, his US green card, and the notion that he was reluctant to respond to Britain's cost-of-living problem, he found himself in a precarious position.
• He was penalised for disobeying the Covid shutdown by attending a Downing Street gathering.
• However, after creating a big package worth tens of billions of pounds to aid businesses and employees, he gained enormous popularity during the pandemic.
• Rishi Sunak has two daughters with Akshata Murty, the daughter of Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. They met while they were students in California.

This development comes after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to resign, ending an unprecedented political crisis over his future, says British media.

Johnson had rebuffed calls by his Cabinet including recently appointed chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, asked him to resign in the wake of ethics scandals.

He gave in after more than 40 ministers quit his government and told him to go.

However, following a series of resignations from the cabinet against his leadership, he had vowed to "keep going"

This summer will see a Conservative leadership race, and a new prime minister will be in office by the time of the party conference in October.