The success of Indian-American Democrat Ami Bera in the Congressional race last year has prompted Republicans from the community to make a determined bid in the 2014 race, eyeing as many as 10 contests across America.
In the 2012 race, there was a lone Indian-American Republican candidate — Ricky Gill from California. All the other five ‘desi’ candidates were Democrats. Chicago-based businessman Shalabh Kumar, who attracted attention in March by organising the visit of four Republican lawmakers to Gujarat for a meeting with Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is now leading the push for increased participation by Indian-American Republicans in the Congressional circuit. Kumar, who heads the Indian-American Executive Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee, had indicated that a vetting process is on, with plans to put up promising candidates for about 10 seats, two each in Illinois, New Jersey, New York and California – States which are reputedly Democratic strongholds.