As millions vote in UK polls, future of PM Rishi Sunak and his party hangs in balance

London, NT Bureau: The future of Rishi Sunak as Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian origin and the leader of the Conservative Party – fighting anti-incumbency of 14 years – hangs in the balance as millions cast their ballots in a historic general election on Thursday.

The British Indian leader and the man who wants his job – Labour leader Keir Starmer were among the early voters from an estimated 46 million registered voters as around 40,000 polling booths opened across the country at 7 am local time.

Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty walked hand in - hand to their local polling booth on a sunny day in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire, northern England. A little later, Starmer and wife Victoria were at their polling station in Camden, north London, sporting Labour red colours.

“Today, Britain can be gin a new chapter,” Starmer told voters in a statement. “We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour,” he said.

Sunak, meanwhile, took to social media to drive home his message: “Polls are open. It's time to stop the Labour supermajority that would mean higher taxes for the rest of your life.”