Changing colours

Trump’s visit will benefit the Indian-American community indirectly. But will they vote for him?

- LAVINA MELWANI

YOU COULD CALL them some of the most desirable voters in the US that any political party would love to have in their ranks. Indeed, Indian-Americans seem to be in all 50 states and are strong players in the American political scene. This is a 4.5 million-strong community with 55.8 per cent in the 18 to 49 age group, and 73.2 per cent having a bachelor’s degree or higher in education.

So, how is this viable block going to vote in the upcoming presidential elections? The answer changes depending on whom you ask. M.R. Rangaswami, chairman and founder of Indiaspora, a community organisation, has been in the United States for 40 years and has seen the changing status of the Indian immigrants. He observes that the Indian-American community now has a strong presence in the political scene, and is being sought after by both Republicans and Democrats.

“Indian-American community is by no means homogeneous,” says Rangaswami. “About 60 to 65 per cent Indian-Americans were born in India and another 30 to 35 per cent were born in the US. While those born in India are a mix of conservatives and liberals, the ones born here are younger and tend to be more liberal.”

Karthick Ramakrishnan, who directs the National Asian American Survey and is founder of AAPI DATA, which publishes demographic data and policy research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, says the Indian-Americans are still overwhelmingly Democrats. According to AAPI DATA, in 2016, 48 per cent Indian-Americans identified as Democrats, 22 per cent as Republicans and 30 per cent as neither. He says these figures remain stable in spite of the Donald Trump administration making overtures to the community and having appointed many Indian-Americans to prominent positions over the years.