10 Indian-Americans win state and local elections in US

10 Indian-Americans win state and local elections in US
Washington: At least 10 Indian-Americans, almost all of them Democrats, have won local and state-level elections held in several parts of the country, reflecting the growing political empowerment of the ethnic community that constitutes a little over one per cent of the US population.

In Virginia, Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi was re-elected to the State Senate for a third consecutive term. She was the first-ever Indian-American woman and a Muslim to be elected to the Virginia State legislation.

Suhas Subramanyam was re-elected to the Virginia State Senate. He was elected to the House of Delegates for two terms in 2019 and 2021. A former technology policy advisor in the White House during the Obama Administration, Houston-born Subramanian is the first Hindu to be elected to the Virginia House.

Business leader Kannan Srinivasan, who immigrated from India in the 90s, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from the India-American dominated Loudon County area. All three winners in Virginia are from the Democratic party as are the three winners from New Jersey.

In New Jersey, Indian-Americans Vin Gopal and Raj Mukherji, both from the Democratic Party, were elected to the State Senate. Indian-American Balvir Singh, a teacher, was re-elected to New Jersey’s Burlington County Board of County Commissioner.

In Pennsylvania, Neil Makhija, a Democrat, won the coveted position of Montgomery County Commissioner, while Indian-American physician Dr Anita Joshi won the West District seat for Carmel City Council seat in Indiana.

Makhija is the first-ever Indian-American or AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) to serve on a county’s board of commissioners in the Commonwealth’s 342-year history. Dr Joshi is the only Democrat to have won in the Republican bastion.

Born and raised in the United States, India-American Priya Tamilarasan won the election for Gahanna City Attorney in Ohio.

Non-profit Land Bank CEO Arunan Arulampalam of Indian origin who immigrated from Zimbabwe was elected as the Mayor of Hartford in Connecticut.

After their electoral victories, all the 10 Indian-American candidates pledged to work for their constituents.

The co-founder of the 21st Century Icon Awards in London strongly believes much more needs to be done for the low- and middle-income households across London and hopes his levelling up ideas will strike a chord with the city’s voters as he prepares to challenge London’s Pakistani-origin Mayor Sadiq Khan.

“As London mayor, I wish to see increased cohesiveness between countries whose diaspora live in London, by building people-to-people and business connect,” said Ghulati.

“I will build a thriving London, do away with barriers for growth and ensure safety of all citizens. The Ultra-Low Emission Zone will be scrapped totally, no Congestion Charge will apply over weekends and holidays, 20mph speed limit zones and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods will be reviewed. I wish to see visible policing across all the boroughs and police stations restored where crime rates are high. Affordable housing will a key strategy,” he said.