HOUNSLOW'S youngest ever mayor plans to use his year in the chains to help inspire the next generation of politicians.
Councillor Sachin Gupta pulled on the mayoral robes for the first time as he was sworn in at last night's borough council meeting.
The 37-year-old, only elected for the first time in 2010, replaced Councillor Pritam Grewal in the top ceremonial role, with the outgoing mayor taking over Mr Gupta's cabinet role as lead member for communities and communications. His deputy mayor is Councillor Corinna Smart.
He is keen to use his mayoral year to encourage younger people to follow him into local politics and explode the myth it is the preserve of the elderly and retired.
"It's a very great honour to be mayor and I'm truly humbled," said the Bedfont ward councillor.
"I want to show people politics isn't only for retired people but for young people and family people too. It's important they have a voice too."
Mr Gupta was born in Amritsar, northern India and came to the UK in 1998. He completed an MBA in marketing and now works for Heathrow Airport as a facilities inspector.
He is married to Shalu and they have two children, Aryan, five, and Sienna, three.
His two chosen charities for the year are both causes close to his heart.
Ovarian Cancer Action supported a close family member and one of Mr Gupta's ward members, both of whom battled the disease.
The charity hit the headlines this week with news of Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy, as she revealed she was diagnosed as having an 87 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.
The Tropical Zoo, meanwhile, recently moved from Syon Park to Hounslow Urban Farm - a short hop from the new mayor's Myrtle Road house - where it is looking to raise £2 million to build its new home.
Mr Gupta said he was keen to promote the zoo because of its close work with schoolchildren in Hounslow and further afield.
One of the new mayor's first commitments could be to welcome his beloved Brentford team at a civic reception should they win promotion to the Championship at Wembley this weekend.
However, the sport-lover's loyalties would be torn next season if Brentford end up playing his other team QPR, although he says the Bees will always come first.
Mr Gupta is also a keen badminton player and cricketer, representing BAA (Heathrow Airport's old name) at the latter.
He is determined to secure another victory for the mayor's eleven in this summer's charity cricket match, having captained them to their first ever victory last year.
