ARLINGTON, Texas — Arlington Mayor Jim Ross has announced the formation of a new South Asian Advisory Council, bringing together local leaders from the city’s Indian, Nepali, and broader South Asian communities.

During today’s meeting, Mayor Ross welcomed residents from Arlington’s many cultural communities and emphasized that the city’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths. The new council is intended to help strengthen communication, civic participation, cultural understanding, and collaboration between city leadership and South Asian residents.

The council will be co-chaired by Rex Anand, representing the Indian community, and Surya Thapa, representing the Nepali community. Anand is an Arlington-based technology and business leader with a strong interest in community engagement. Thapa is a former television journalist with extensive community journalism experience who now serves as a Realtor in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.

Other initial members include Dr. Chandi Bhandari, who holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Houston and serves as a U.S. Air Force officer and Generative AI research scientist; Shraddha Shrestha, president of the Nepalese American Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Ajay Sobti, a board-certified internal medicine physician who has practiced in Arlington since 1985; and Hemal Patel, an entrepreneur and technology executive with more than 20 years of experience building and leading companies in technology and business services.

Mayor Ross also shared that the South Asian Advisory Council will continue to grow, with additional members expected to be added from other South Asian countries. The goal is to create an inclusive council that represents the many voices, cultures, and experiences of Arlington’s South Asian communities.

The formation of the council reflects the growing contribution of South Asian families, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to the City of Arlington and marks a meaningful step toward stronger civic engagement across the city.