Hyderabad: As Donald Trump planned a historic comeback to become the 47th US President, celebrations broke out in Andhra Pradesh’s Vadluru village, the ancestral home of Vice President-elect JD Vance’s wife Usha Chilukuri Vance, who will become the first Indian-origin Second Lady becomes.

Villagers in West Godavari burst crackers and distributed sweets after the Republican victory was confirmed. “A Telugu girl now has official entry into the White House,” a Vadluru resident said while speaking to local media.

The Chilukuris hail from Vadluru and Chilakaluripeta in Krishna district and are known for their tradition of Veda Avadhanis – scholars of Vedic literature and song. Many family members have held positions at prestigious institutions including Andhra University and IIT Madras.

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“I’m happy for my niece, but I have nothing more to say,” said Dr. Sharada Jandhyala, Usha’s paternal aunt in Chennai, told HT.

A Vadluru resident who spoke to a local TV channel said: “While we would be happy even if Kamala Harris won because she is also of Indian origin, we are particularly excited because a Telugu girl will now get an official entry into the state White House has.” “.

Usha’s father and two brothers went to the US to pursue higher studies and have been living there ever since. “Before that, we were in Chennai as small children and stayed here all the time,” said Dr. Sharada previously told HT. Hard work, intelligence and courage are Usha’s characteristic qualities, for which she is known in her family as well as for her quality as a first-class lawyer.

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Usha’s parents immigrated to San Diego in 1980, where she and her younger sister Shreya were born. Her father visited Vadluru about three years ago.

“Usha is not only highly educated and independent, but also proud of her Indian heritage,” said Vijaya Oosuri of the Indo-American Association and the Bay Area Telugu Association. “Their Telugu identity is of particular importance to us.”

The news sparked jubilation across Telugu associations across the world and congratulatory messages flooded social media platforms.

The villagers expressed their hope that the “America Ammayi” (American girl) would visit their ancestral village. Usha’s younger sister Shreya works as a mechanical engineer at a semiconductor company in San Diego.