UK elections 2024: What Rishi Sunak's exit as UK PM means for India-UK ties

When UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came to India for New Delhi G20 Leaders summit in September 2023, his early morning visit with wife Akshata Murty to the picturesque Akshardham temple on the bank of river Yamunaturned heads and won headlines.

The Indian-origin leader of the UK's Conservative Party garnered the admiration of Indians for the purported display of humility when he sat beside Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on one knee as the elder leader from Dhaka sat on a chair.

The picture was clickedright after the G20 leaders paid homage to Indian freedom iconMahatma Gandhi at his resting place in New Delhi.

But with the UK election results showing Tories headed for a historic defeat, Sunak is out of the equation of Delhi-London ties for at least next five years. Here's what it means for key tenets of the bilateral relationship.

India-UK ties after Rishi Sunak: On Free Trade Deal

India and the UK are working to secure a free trade pact, but the negotiations remain stalled in the 14th round. The deal was touted to have reached final points of consensus during Boris Johnson's tenure but the contentions renaub on lower tariffs on items such as whiskey and automobiles. Pending issues include UK's ask for greater market access into the world's third biggest economy amid New Delhi's focus on protectingdomestic players.

The deal, if it succeeds, will serve as template for a future trade deal with the European Union. A Labour PM is likely to continue the talks but the trade deal may still be far from fruition at least in the near future.

On issues carried forward from history

More than any other relationship, India's ties with the UK carry the burden of the complex colonial past. The scars are both material and psychological. The success of film RRRis a reminder of how strongly the feelings about colonial era resonate with the Indian masses. Many in India found an Indian-origin prime minister in the Downing Street as a psychological balm for the deep wounds of colonialism.

A Labour prime minister will be expected to ensure a consistent acknowledgement of Britain's colonial past. At the same time, New Delhi would continue to approach London much more clinically. The UK serves as an effective gateway for Indian businesses in Europe, and New Delhi has been cognizant of the same in its engagements with Britain.

On immigration and visa issues

Immigration remains among the most heated issues in British politics. There is abipartisan consensus that it must be restricted.

New Delhi is seeking temporary visas for its service sector workforce under the FTA. With the UK's prowess in the IT and financial services segment, India’s service sector could benefit from this immigrational integration. The Labour, however, too is likely to negotiate hard on the visa issue.