South Asians For America Rallies Voters For Kumar, Ghimire Ahead Of June Primary

India-West News Desk

JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY-The South Asian community in Queens is translating years of grassroots organizing into electoral momentum as New York’s June 23 Democratic primary approaches.

At a campaign event here, South Asians for America (SAFA) rallied supporters behind two candidates seeking to expand South Asian representation in New York politics.

Vichal Kumar, a civil rights attorney, is running for Congress in New York’s 7th District. A victory would make him the first South Asian American elected to Congress from New York.

Somnath Ghimire is running for the State Assembly in District 30. If elected, he would become the first Nepali American from Queens to serve in a state legislature.

The event, held at Nepali Bhanchha Ghar Restaurant, drew attorneys, activists, first-generation immigrants and local residents.

SAFA Co-National Director Neha Dewan, introducing Kumar, said New York’s large South Asian population has long remained underrepresented in federal office.

Kumar said his campaign is focused on protecting immigrant families from ICE raids, expanding healthcare access and strengthening worker protections. “South Asian immigrants built this city block by block,” Kumar said. “We need to ensure we have representation now more than ever.”

SAFA Co-National Director Harini Krishnan introduced Ghimire as a candidate shaped by community organizing and local advocacy.

A Woodside resident and labor leader, Ghimire is campaigning on affordable housing, stronger public schools and worker protections. “Our community is stronger when South Asians stand together,” Ghimire said. “On June 23, we are going to show Queens and the country what this community can do when we move as one.”

The gathering also served as a voter outreach drive, with volunteers writing postcards to residents across western Queens.

Krishnan described postcard campaigns as an accessible organizing tool for immigrant communities, saying civic participation does not require insider connections or large donations.

Other speakers included Bengali Club USA President Dinesh Mojumder; Dileepkumar Thankappan of the New York State Interfaith Council; SAFA activist Merina Parajuli; and parkour athlete Dinesh Sunar, a 22-time Guinness World Records holder.