Bera wins, other Indian-Americans lose

In this Oct. 26, 2012, photo, Ami Bera, the Democratic candidate for the California's 7th Congressional district, is seen in his campaign office Elk Grove, Calif. Bera is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Lungren. Lungren knows what it's like to have a big bull's eye plastered on his back. The Democratic Party and labor and environmental groups have spent $4.7 million on TV commercials and other efforts to unseat the nine-term Republican congressman. Bera poses next to a chart showing how much he has received in weekly "grassroots" contributions. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Dr. Ami Bera was on the cusp of creating history by becoming only the third Indian-American ever to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, as five others from the community bit the dust in the polls.

Mr. Bera (45) had a lead of just 184 votes against his Republican rival and incumbent Dan Lungren, when all the votes were counted for the Seventh Congressional District in California.

So far only two Indian-Americans have been elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Indian-American elected to the U.S. Congress in the 1950s, while Bobby Jindal was a House member from 2005 to 2008 before being elected as the Governor of Louisiana.

In neighbouring Ninth Congressional District of California, “young gun” Republican Ricky Gill lost by more than 10,000 votes (nearly seven per cent votes) to incumbent Democrat Jerry Mc Nerney.

Rest of the four Indian American candidates — Dr Syed Taj, Dr Manan Trivedi, Upendra Chivukula and Jack Uppala — also lost the Congressional elections.

Except for Mr. Gill, all are from the Democratic Party.

Hindu in the House

Tulsi Gabbard (31), on Wednesday, created history by becoming the first Hindu-American to have entered the U.S. House of Representatives, winning her Hawaii seat by trouncing her Republican rival in a one-sided contest.

An Iraq war veteran, Ms. Gabbard defeated K. Crowley of the Republican Party with a handsome margin. Proud of her Hindu religion, she is not Indian or of Indian heritage. Her Catholic father Mike Gabbard, is currently Hawaii State Senator and her Hindu mother Carol Porter Gabbard is an educator and business owner.