By Our Foreign Correspondent
Washington: The Republican Party’s candidate for US Presidential election on Nov 05 played with the Hindutwa trump card for votes of Indian Americans.
Diwali, the festival of lights, in India has logged lime light for the US Presidential election as the New York state had declared an official holiday for Diwali on Nov One Friday, an unprecedented event in the history of American. Even Good Friday was not a holiday in the New York state, reports media.
Trump’s revelation that he would “protect Hindu-Americans against the anti-religion agenda of the left” was not much takers, as it is just for 72 hours for polling and the people here considered it just as a counter to the declaration of holiday for Diwali and with a view to gaining the votes of Indian-Americans for the Republican candidate. Indians in the US was estimated about 23 lakhs.
The voters here not only Indians but others also are doubtful about the sincerity of Trump’s statement at the fag- end of the election campaign.
According to opinion polls here, both the candidates are neck-and-neck it is very difficult to predict who will occupy the White House for next four years. However, Harris is a tad ahead of Donald Trump. The voters here strongly believe that the Republican Party candidate Mr Donald Trump’s last minute revelation of protection Hindus in America would have effect of only a damp squib and its efficacy among voters would be nil.
However both the candidates are making their best efforts to gain more Indians’ votes especially from swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, Georgia and Nevada.
The fight for the US President’s election is for gaining electoral college’s voters (electors) Out of the total 538 electors, a candidate should obtain at least 270 electors’ support for declaring as winner of the election. Whatever great may be the majority of popular votes, it would immaterial.
The number electors in the swing states are : Wisconsin (10), Michigan (15), Pennsylvania (19) North Carolina(16), Arizona (11), Georgia (16) and Nevada (6).
