Voting in U.S. mid-term poll begins

U.S. President and his Democratic party feared a rout in the House of Representatives, as Americans, frustrated with continued job loss and economic woes, came out to vote in the mid-term polls, seen as a referendum on the policies of Barack Obama.

All the 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grab, while Republicans and Democrats are keenly contesting for 37 of the 100 Senate seats.

Elections are also being held for 37 State Governors, besides a large number of State and local elections.

For the first time, a record six Indian-Americans are in the fray, besides quite a number of them for other local and State elections.

However, for the Indian Americans all eyes are on Nikki Randhawa Haley, daughter of Sikh immigrants from Punjab.

If the latest opinion polls are of any indication, chances are bright for her.

Ms. Haley might create history by becoming the first woman governor of South Carolina and only the second Indian-American Governor after Bobby Piyush Jindal of Louisiana.

The six Indian Americans running for House of Representatives are having a fight. Interestingly five of them are Democrats — Manan Trivedi from Pennsylvania, Ami Bera from California, Raj Goyle from Kansas, Ravi Sangisetty from Louisiana and Surya Yalamanchili from Ohio.

Ashvin Lad from Illinois is the only Republican Indian American in fray. But it is not clear yet, who would become only the third Indian American ever to enter the U.S. Congress after Dilip Singh Saundh and Bobby Piyush Jindal.

Trivedi, Bera and Goyle are said to have some chance if any, if the poll reports are of any indication. Latest opinion polls said Republicans were heading for a massive victory as people are apparently not satisfied with the economic policies of the Obama Administration.

The opposition Republican Party needs 39 seats to regain majority in the House of Representatives. It also needs to get an additional 10 Senate seats to get Senate majority.