Washington: Be it for Donald Trump’s tax cut, Jobs Act, focus on small businesses or bonhomie with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a majority of Indian-Americans had been loyal to the Republican Party.
But, will the community now shift loyalties with Kamala Harris now highlighting her Indian roots during her campaign for the US Presidential elections? As the polls draw close, here’s how the campaign for Kamala Harris has constant reminders of her Indian roots.
The ‘Naccho, Naccho’ moment
Harnessing the power of Bollywood music, an Indian-American entrepreneur and a major fundraiser for the Democratic party released a music video to mobilise South Asians in key battleground states to vote for Vice-President Kamala Harris in the November 5 Presidential election.
Excited to share the release of our new music video, ‘Nacho Nacho,’ supporting @VP Kamala Harris for President! Let’s mobilize and turn out the South Asian vote in key battleground states @DNC @CNN @ABC @maddow @aajtak @ndtvindia @IndiaToday @republic pic.twitter.com/x92vns4gH8
— Ajay Jain Bhutoria (@ajainb) September 8, 2024
The 1.5-minute video features Kamala Harris’s campaign, with a Hindi song titled ‘Hamari Ye Kamala Harris’ playing in the background. The song also includes a rendition of the popular Oscar-winning ‘Naatu Naatu’ track from the movie ‘RRR,’ rephrased as ‘Nacho Nacho’.
The song for Harris has been performed by Bollywood singer Shibani Kashyap and produced by Ritesh Parikh. It is the brainchild of Ajay Jain Bhutoria, National Finance Committee member for ‘Ms. Harris for President’ campaign. It is Bhutoria, who has shared the video on his X handle.
This campaign aims to connect Harris with the diverse South Asian-American community across battleground states and major districts. There are nearly five million South Asian voters in states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona, according to reports. The video also features messages from the community in Indian languages.
Kamala recollects visits to India
In the poll season, Kamala once again reminded the world of her Indian roots by sharing her memories from the past on National Grandparents Day (September 9). She took to social media and recollected her visits to India.
“As a young girl visiting my grandparents in India, my grandfather took me on his morning walks, where he would discuss the importance of fighting for equality and fighting corruption. He was a retired civil servant who had been part of the movement to win India’s independence. My grandmother traveled across India—bullhorn in hand—to speak with women about accessing birth control. Their commitment to public service and fight for a better future live on in me today. Happy National Grandparents Day to all the grandparents who help shape and inspire the next generation,” she wrote on X.
As a young girl visiting my grandparents in India, my grandfather took me on his morning walks, where he would discuss the importance of fighting for equality and fighting corruption. He was a retired civil servant who had been part of the movement to win India’s independence.… pic.twitter.com/vOpgtsomQN
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 8, 2024
Grassroots campaign by Indian Americans
Recently, a new grassroots campaign titled ‘Indian Americans for Harris’ was launched to support the Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The campaign is being spearheaded by a group of prominent Indian-Americans.
The campaign’s official website highlights Harris’s biracial background. It states that her background is a ‘reflection of America’s diverse melting pot.’
