Whatever be the result there will be an Indian connection in the White House on Nov 5

Last June when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the US Congress he made a lighthearted remark, “It’s been brought to my notice that the Samosa Caucus is now the flavour of the House,” Modi said, referring to the handful of Indian American lawmakers who had adopted the Indian snack as part of their caucus nickname.

However, he noted referring to Vice President Kamala Harris and her Indian heritage, “There are millions here who have roots in India. Some of them proudly sit in this chamber and there is one right behind me, who has made history,” he said, pointing at Harris, seated behind him on the dais.

Over a year later the Indian connection is more prominent to in the presidential race. VP Harris now on the democratic presidential ticket, running for President and her rival ticket from Republican Party has an Indian son in law JD Vance as the running mater for president trump. Mrs. Usha Vance is the American born daughter of Telugu speaking migrants from Andhra Pradesh.

But this is not where the Indian political story ends in US. After making the debut in US congress in 1957 with Dalip Singh Saund, who was elected from 29th district today there are now five Indian Americans RO Khanna, Ami Bera, Raja krishnamurthy, Pramila Jaipal and Sri Thanedar in US Congress and close to 40 in state legislatures.

But the rise has taken its time, a decade ago in 2013, the House of Representatives had a single Indian American member. Fewer than 10 Indian Americans were serving in state legislatures. None had been elected to the Senate. None had run for president. Despite being one of the largest immigrant groups in the United States, Americans of Indian descent were barely represented in politics.

Prior to 2013, the first Indian American politician to make a name was Bobby Jindal, who became the governor of Louisiana in January 2008. He was followed by Nikki Haley who before being the governor of South Carolina in 2011 was a three time Congresswomen from the state. She also became the first women to win a presidential primary in the Republican Party earlier in March 2024.

Though he isn’t holding any political office businessman turned politician Vivek Ramaswamy is one of the most talked about Republican politician after President Trump. He bowed out of the republican presidential race after standing fourth in the Iowa caucus.

As per the data of AAPI(Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities) Indian Americans though form mere .06 percent of the adult population of US, close to 4.4 percent government positions are filled by the community.

When it comes to votes in the battleground swing states indian Americans form a whopping 21 percent on the overall voter list. This makes them sought after lot.

As the AAPI data points out 55 percent of indian Americans identify themselves as Democrats, 26 percent identify themselves as Republicans and remaining 19 percent identify as independents. Their survey shows over 70 percent will be voting for harris in the upcoming polls.

Would that be enough push for Harris to make history, only time will tell, but whatever be the result the winning ticket in this presidential race will give the indian diaspora a reason to cheer about.