New York: Indian-Americans made a mark in Congressional politics with one of them becoming the first to be elected to the Senate and four others winning seats in the House of Representatives.
Kamala Harris was elected from California to the Senate defeating fellow-Democrat Loretta Sanchez.
Tulsi Gabbard, who is a Hindu although not of Indian descent, was re-elected to the House from Hawaii.
All Democrats, they range in age from 35 years to 52 years and represent the emerging class of leaders.
"This also help the US and India to come closer as a global partner in trade, investment, education, science and technology, military cooperation and fighting terrorism."
The victory of Harris is significant because senators are elected by the entire electorate in their states and California is the most populous state in the nation with 18 million voters.
The 52-year-old Harris, who traces her family roots to Chennai, is a lawyer by profession and was twice elected Attorney General in 2010 and 2014.
A financial analyst by profession, Jayapal, 51, defeated fellow Democrat, Brady Wilkinshaw. A civil rights activist involved in immigrant and women's rights causes, she was born in India. She received the endorsement of Bernie Sanders, the insurgent socialist who ran against Hillary Clinton in the party primary.
Krishnamoorthi, 43, who had advised President Barack Obama on economic issues when he was a Senator, received a personal endorsement and a promotional video from Obama. He defeated Republican Peter DiCianni in a constituency that comprises Chicago suburbs.
Khanna, a former federal Deputy Assistant Commerce Secretary, won from the heart of Silicon Valley on his second try. With the endorsement of former President Jimmy Carter, he defeated sitting Congressman Mike Honda in a bitter rematch.
Harris has a dual identity: She is also counted as an African American as her father is a Jamaican of African descent and she follows the Baptist faith.
She would also become the second American woman of African descent elected to the Senate and joins two other African Americans in the Senate.
After her parents divorced, Harris was raised by her mother Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer specialist from Chennai, giving her equal claim to Indian heritage.
Gabbard's Republican rival Angela Kaaihue launched bigoted attack on her with anti-Hindu statements and called her a "pathetic Hindu 1,000 gods leader." Republican Party leaders condemned Kaaihue and withdrew support to her.
The first Indian elected to Congress is Dalip Singh Saund, who won from California in 1956.
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