Experts say outreach to India by some of the US presidential contenders may not bring any added benefit to ties, while there is bipartisan support for closer ties with New Delhi to counter an aggressive China.
Usha Chilukuri Vance, the wife of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican running mate Donald Trump, has rarely visited the birthplace of one or both of her parents, though Indians are proud of their success.
“Either way, from India’s perspective, whether it’s Republican or Democrat, that relationship has the support of both parties and there should be no impact on that,” said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India’s former ambassador to the United States.
Regarding relations with India, he said, “It will only benefit,” adding, “There will be no adverse impact on it.”
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said since both parties in Washington view relations with New Delhi positively, no matter which party wins or the Indian roots of the candidate, it will not have much impact on the relationship.
Both President Joe Biden and his predecessor Trump have tried to woo India, not only to challenge China in the region but also to rid New Delhi of its traditional dependence on Russian arms.
Source of inspiration
Both Harris and Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance, have ties with South India. Vance belongs to a family of renowned academics.
Harris, who has garnered enough delegate support to secure the Democratic nomination, is seen as a role model in her mother’s native village of Thulasendrapuram.
Sudhakar, a resident of the village where Harris’ maternal grandfather was born, said, “She has proved how young women, who were earlier confined to their homes, can reach such heights and become public figures in the world’s number one country.”
“How big an achievement is that?”
Harris, who came to the village at the age of five, recalled walking with her grandfather on the beaches of Chennai city, where the family later moved, about 320 km from this village of about 2,000 people.
But she has not returned since becoming US Vice President.
“Residents were expecting a visit, a statement or at least a mention of the village, but that did not happen,” said shopkeeper G. Manikandan.
He said, “But when she wins, we will invite her and organise a grand function to welcome her.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
