UK calling young MLA

Ranchi, July 21: He is a young, suave and intelligent leader who understands the pulse of the masses and the issues concerning GenY.

Meet Kunal Sarangi, the 32-year-old Baharagora legislator, who is among a dozen-odd young India political leaders selected for a study tour of the UK in October this year.

Considered to be one of the most educated and promising people's representatives of Jharkhand, Kunal is the lone leader from the state to have been chosen by the British High Commission for the prestigious programme, Young Political Leaders' Visit, that will provide an insight into the UK Parliamentary system and democracy.

"This is a big honour for me and I am looking forward to this study tour (October 16 to 22), which I am sure will sharpen my skills as a people's representative and help me understanding various issues," Sarangi told The Telegraph over phone on his way to Ranchi from Baharagora to take part in the monsoon session of the Assembly starting tomorrow.

A BTech from National Institute of Technology (NIT)-Jamshedpur, Kunal studied MBA at Lancaster University (UK), and pursued a programme on Leadership Development at Harvard University (USA).

Son of former state health minister Dr Dinesh Sarangi, who was part of the Babulal Marandi and Arjun Munda governments between 2000 and 2005, Kunal worked with several multinationals in India and abroad before taking the electoral plunge with a JMM ticket in 2014. He defeated former state BJP chief Dineshanand Goswami by more than 15,000 votes.

Known as most vocal young leader, Kunal came to prominence with his mass movement against the bad condition of NH-33 and NH-6 that criss-cross through two major cities of Jharkhand - Ranchi and Jamshedpur - and go to different destinations of Bengal and Odisha via Baharagora. The dilapidated highways are now on the revamp tracks.

Currently, he is the central spokesperson of the JMM and doubles up as the whip of the main Opposition party in the Jharkhand Assembly.

Kunal said this was a fully sponsored tour organised by the British High Commission, New Delhi.

The delegation, which will comprise a dozen young politicians from different political parties of India, will meet members of the UK Parliament and decision-makers in the British government and explore strengths, opportunities and challenges in the UK-India bilateral partnership. The participants will also meet with their counterparts in British political parties, get insights into the British economy and electoral system, and focus on areas like science and innovation, higher education, energy and urban sectors.