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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

KAMALA HARRIS JENIFER RAJKUMAR

VP’s ancestral village tracks her Assemblywoman considering bid

prospects in US election for NYC Comptroller

n a small south Indian village, Thulasendrapuram, more than 8,000 miles
(12,900 km) from Washington, residents are closely watching to see if U.S.
IVice President Kamala Harris might replace Joe Biden in the upcoming ssemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar has opened an exploratory committee
election against Donald Trump. Harris, born to an Indian mother and a Jamai- to run for New York City Comptroller. As a Democrat, she would be on
can father who migrated to the United States to study, is the leading contender Aa collision course with the city’s current comptroller, Brad Lander. “We
to take Biden’s place in the November 5 election race if he were to drop out, have the most expensive health care system in the world, the largest education
sources have said. However, Biden has said he’s “not going anywhere.” system in the country and New York City is the largest metropolitan economy
Harris visited her ancestral village when she was five and has recalled
walks with her grandfather on the beach of Chennai, around 200 miles from on the globe,” said Rajkumar.
She added, “And yet hardworking New Yorkers who pay some of the
the village where the family later lived. highest taxes in the country are not able to get lifesaving healthcare, quality
According to a Reuters report, the village’s residents want more this time,
given the news coming from the U.S. which they are following on TV and education or adequate transportation.”
Rajkumar says, there is not enough return on investment or government
social media.
accountability. As per her, the inefficiency in governmental affairs is costing
lives. She declared, “I can fix it, and that is why I am exploring a run for New
“There will be a larger celebration this time as she is expected to York City Comptroller.”
Rajkumar’s statement highlights her focus on government accountability
contest for president,” said K. Kaliyaperumal, a member of the and efficiency, emphasizing that she aims to address these issues if she de-
village committee. He said if she was nominated, the reaction cides to officially enter the race. The primary election is scheduled for June
would be like it was for India’s cricket team, whose recent World of next year.
Jenifer Rajkumar is a lawyer, professor, and government leader who
Cup win sparked a frenzy in the country. made history as the first South Asian-American woman ever to be elected
to a state office in New York. A graduate of Stanford Law School and the
“Residents expected a visit, statement or at least a mention about the vil- University of Pennsylvania, Jenifer has worked across the country to empow-
lage, but that didn’t happen,” said G. Manikandan, a shopkeeper in Thulasen- er disenfranchised, vulnerable and excluded individuals, at both the national
drapuram, where some 2,000 people live. “Many people hung calendars with and local levels.
her picture outside their homes when she became vice president. They are not Comptroller is New York City’s Chief Financial Officer, an independently
so prominent anymore. But it’s likely they’ll now make a comeback.” elected official who safeguards the City’s fiscal health, roots out waste, fraud
While the village may be disappointed it didn’t get a mention, S.V. Ra- and abuse in local government, and ensures that municipal agencies serve the
manan, who runs a temple to the family deity of Harris’ grandfather, was sym- needs of all New Yorkers.
pathetic, saying her family left Thulasendrapuram in the 1930s. Continued on next page... >>

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