Meet Manga, First Indian-origin Candidate to Run for US House of Representatives

Andhra Pradesh-born Manga Anantatmula, who’s known for raising her voice against the discrimination Indians face when it comes to Ivy League admissions, is all set to run for US House of Representatives in a bid to be the voice for the community particularly the Hindus in the US.

Manga who worked as a federal government contractor in defence acquisitions programme management, has become a presumptive nominee of the Republican party from the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. This makes her the first Indian-origin candidate to run for the House of Representatives from there.

The 11th Congressional District comprises mostly of the affluent Fairfax County on the outskirts of Washington DC, has about 17 per cent Asian population, including an estimated 7 per cent Indian Americans.

While it is known that Asian Americans, including Indian-Americans usually support Democratic party candidates, Manga is hoping for a turnaround. She’s pitted against six-term incumbent Congressman Gerry Connolly.

“This time a large number of Democratic party supporters are moving towards the Republican party because of the current political situation and due to the successful policies of President Donald Trump,” Manga, who’s known to support Donald Trump, was quoted as saying.

"I will support a strategy to build a global alliance to defeat terrorism," Anantatmula was quoted as saying. "I am the only Indian American who continues to fight the discrimination in admission in IV League Schools," she further said.

"Leaving behind an affluent life in India, my little boy and I accompanied my husband to the US in early 1990s in pursuit of his graduate and doctoral degrees, an American dream. We chose Northern Virginia as our new home for its school system and standard of living, and lived in Fairfax County," she was quoted as saying.