Residents of Vadluru, a village in Andhra Pradesh, India, held prayers on Tuesday, November 5, hoping for the success of the U.S. Republican Party, including JD Vance, who is Donald Trump’s running mate for vice president. JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, has roots in Vadluru, where her family is well-regarded.
Usha Vance’s paternal grandfather, Ramasastry Chilukuri, originally from Vadluru, moved to Chennai in 1959 to teach at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Her parents later migrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s, where they now teach engineering and molecular biology in San Diego.
Usha Vance, 38, entered the U.S. political spotlight earlier this year when she introduced her husband, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, at the Republican National Convention.
“We are very proud of her achievements,” said Vadluru resident Venkata Ramana. “We hope she brings development to Vadluru and other parts of the region.”
As Americans cast their votes, Vadluru residents eagerly await the election results, hoping that the Vance family’s influence could benefit their ancestral homeland.
