It's Patel vs Patel in UK mayor poll

So far, the Leicester City Council leader is selected by fellow councillors and cabinet positions are selected by the local party, meaning the leader has less influence over policy.

An elected mayor will select his or her own cabinet to control every policy area in the city – from schools and transport to finance and regeneration.

After the council decided to hold elections to the office of mayor, five leading citizens of the multicultural town have announced their candidature: current council leader Veejay Patel, Rita Patel, Peter Soulsby, Ross Wilmott and Abdul Osman.

Rita Patel, 51, who migrated to Britain in the 1970s and went on to hold several key positions in the voluntary sector, expects to be chosen as the official Labour Party candidate.

Veejay Patel, who was born in Leicester, said: "I am currently running the council.  This is my home and I am very proud of my city. I have been successful in business and wanted to give something back, which is why I became a councillor".

Promising to focus on key issues in the town Rita Patel said: "No one person has all the answers, and bringing people together is the only way we are going to get through the difficult times we face. I don't have the money to run a glitzy campaign".

Patel is the former manager of the Belgrave Baheno, a voluntary organisation for local women in Leicester.She was also closely involved with the Peepul Centre, located in the Belgrave area of the town.

She said: "I absolutely love the city of Leicester and the way we have always opened our arms and welcomed new people. I believe in the people of Leicester and feel that they deserve better, no matter where they live."

Launching his campaign, Veejay Patel said: "I believe being mayor isn't about egos but about working as a team with the councillors and with the ordinary members of the public for our great city"