TMCnet News
Indian Americans hope for a stable govtWashington, May 15, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- Anxiously waiting for the results of the Lok Sabha elections, Indian Americans, despite sharp differences over which party would be best suitable to lead the country, are hoping against hope that the results throw up a stable government. While it would be mid-night in the United States, when election results would start coming in, a large number of Indian Americans across the US are expected to be awake watching the election results. "It does not matter, who wins or loses the election. It is a time to celebrate the India democracy," said Rohit Kumar, who lives in Bethesda, Maryland near Washington. A software professional, he would be watching election results at his home along with his friends. However there are many who want their party or leaders of choice to come to power. If BJP is the preferred choice for right-wing and pro-Hindutva supporters and for the members of the Overseas Friends of the BJP, it is Congress and Manmohan Singh for the Indian National Overseas Congress. Both the groups have made arrangements with champagne for impromptu celebrations Saturday wee hours when they expect the broad trends would be available. Several of the Indian American community centers - for instance in places like Houston, Tampa, Silicon Valley, New York and Jersey City - have made special arrangements wherein people can collectively watch the election results live on a giant television screen. (Re-opens FGN71) Several Indian restaurants across the United States have also announced that they would be open beyond midnight so as that interested people can watch the live election results; while grabbing pakodas, samosas or a mug of beer. These are mostly in areas where Indian Americans are in sizeable numbers like Jackson Heights in New York, Jersey City and Oak Tree Road, Edison in New Jersey, Little India in California and also in places like Chicago, Miami, Tampa, and places like Minneapolis. Such is the interest in Indian elections that quite a number of them have taken paid subscription for Indian news channels so that they can watch the unfolding of political developments back home live. The fact that the election results starts coming in late Friday night (10-30 pm local time), which is the beginning of the weekend, has added to the interest and helped in making it an occasion of community gathering. Given that Friday night is considered a party night in the United States as the next two days Saturdays and Sundays are holidays, reports are coming from across the country that a large number of regular community events and get together have been organized in various cities of the US to jointly watch the election results. |