• Source:JND
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As Kamala Harris’s election loss garners attention in India, social media users are rallying behind two prominent Indian-origin women on opposing sides of the US presidential race. While Harris, of Tamil descent, has supporters proudly backing her, others are cheering for Usha Vance, who has Telugu roots and is poised to become the next Second Lady as her husband JD Vance prepares to assume the vice presidency. This regional pride has sparked a spirited online debate, with users humorously noting that US voters may have favoured Telugu over Tamil in this election outcome.

“So Telugu Brahmin trumped Tamil Brahmin in yesterday's elections,” wrote a user on X.

Another user on X celebrated Usha Vance’s ascent to Second Lady following Kamala Harris’s election defeat with a post highlighting regional pride. He wrote, "Great day for us, Usha defeated Kamala, Telugu titans defeated Tamil Thalaivas. Two shots to sambars in a single day from Telugu." 

“Another major win for Telugus against Tamils after 1956,” wrote another user. 

Despite the excitement over Usha Vance’s Telugu heritage and Kamala Harris’s Tamil roots, some netizens voiced disapproval, questioning why their ancestral backgrounds should matter. One user commented, “Telugu roots (Usha) defeated Tamil roots (Kamala)! How does this matter for India?”

Some users are having fun with playful comments, while others are celebrating India’s rich diaspora, blending humour with pride over the presence of two Indian-origin women making a mark on the global stage.

Usha Vance's Telugu Connection

Usha Vance, wife of JD Vance, has ancestral roots in Vadluru, a village near the town of Tanuku in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, located about 35 km from Bhimavaram.

Usha has never visited her ancestral village, but her father, Chilukuri Radhakrishnan, visited nearly three years ago to assess the condition of the temples there.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu also hailed JD Vance's victory in the US presidential election as a historic milestone, celebrating the rise of Usha Vance, a woman of Telugu descent, to the position of Second Lady. In his statement, Naidu highlighted the pride this brings to the Telugu community, marking it as a significant achievement on the world stage.

Kamala Harris’s Tamil Roots

Kamala Harris’s maternal grandfather was born over a century ago in Thulasendrapuram, a village about 350 kilometres from Chennai, before moving to the city to work as a senior government official. Although Harris has also never visited the village and has no living relatives there, locals continue to honour her family for their achievements in the US.