Indian Americans could get Harris over the line in this tight contest

While she can't take their vote for granted, enthusiasm for her is building to a crescendo

- Bhagyashree Garekar

WASHINGTON - It promises to be a joyful Deepavali season for Indian Americans. Election 2024 increasingly seems like their coming-of-age moment in American politics.

In a relatively short period, the community of about five million has established a small but growing presence in state houses and the US Congress, where five members serve.

In less than a week, they will have the opportunity to put a half-Indian American candidate in the White House.

Vice-President Kamala Harris, 60, a Democrat whose mother arrived in California in 1958 as a 19-year-old student from Tamil Nadu, cannot take the Indian-American vote for granted. But enthusiasm for her is building to a crescendo.

Ask Mr Kishan Putta, a Democrat who is running to be re-elected commissioner for the District of Columbia's upscale Georgetown neighbourhood.

Two weeks ago, Mr Putta, 50, was on a three-hour bus ride that took him from the safe Democratic harbour of his own district to the biggest swing state of 2024 - Pennsylvania.

He said he had never seen anything quite like that day-long trip, packed with Indian Americans from Washington and the adjoining Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

"I've been involved in politics for almost 30 years now. There were never many South Asians spending a lot of time on politics. There never used to be an organisation or infrastructure to support their involvement," he said.

In 2024, the community has become more self-aware and is being courted like never before.

In all, roughly 2.6 million Indian Americans are eligible to vote in the Nov 5 presidential election. In key battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, the South Asian population exceeds the narrow margin of victory in recent elections.