Indian-American veteran Pulkit Desai sworn in as historic mayor of New Jersey township

Washington: Pulkit Desai, a US Marine veteran and technology professional, has been sworn in as the mayor of Parsippany, New Jersey, becoming the first Indian-American to hold the office following a tightly contested election.

Desai, a Democrat, secured the mayoralty after provisional and postal ballots overturned an initial lead held by the Republican incumbent, James Barberio. Final counts confirmed a narrow victory for Desai, while Democrats also captured two council seats, effectively securing control of the township council. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Saturday.

In his first interview since taking office, Desai told IANS that his administration would focus on controlling urban sprawl whilst strengthening local services.

"Our main priority is to make sure Parsippany is developed in a smart way," he said. "The overcrowding that has happened, we want to stop that, but we want to do smart development for commercial. We want to bring businesses in."

Desai stated that schools and public services would remain central to town policy. "If there is anything for the school... we want to make sure we give them all the funding that’s necessary," he said, citing public infrastructure and safety as ongoing priorities.

He also pledged a governance style defined by openness. "The most important thing is transparency and accountability," Desai said. "I want to be honest with the people of Parsippany with everything that I do." He added that residents deserve to know how decisions are made, promising "no backroom deals" and "nothing hidden" in township government.

Parsippany, the largest township in Morris County, has undergone significant demographic change in recent years, with Asian Americans now forming the largest ethnic group in the community.

Desai acknowledged the significance of this representation, describing the election of himself and council member Diya Patel as "a pretty good monumental achievement", while stressing his commitment to serving all constituents equally. "I have to treat everybody equally," he said, whilst noting he also sees himself as a representative voice for Indian-Americans in the township.

Desai traced his journey to public office back to his early years in the United States. "I came here at a very young age," he said. After completing his education, he joined the US Marine Corps and served for six years, including a deployment during Operation Desert Storm. He subsequently spent three decades working in the technology sector, transitioning from mainframe systems to cybersecurity roles.

His entry into local politics began with a dispute over voting rights whilst serving as president of a local lake association. Residents were once required to pay an additional fee to vote, a charge Desai likened to a "poll tax".

"Nobody should have to pay extra money just to vote," he said. That battle, he noted, pushed him toward broader civic involvement and, ultimately, the mayor’s office.

(Inputs from IANS)