Celebration plans put on hold in Kamala Harris’s ancestral village in Tamil Nadu as Donald Trump nears victory

In the village of Thulasendrapuram, Tamil Nadu, emotions ran high as news poured in about the latest US presidential election results. Known to many as the ancestral village of Kamala Harris, the current US Vice President, this quiet community had been holding its breath, waiting to celebrate what they hoped would be another Democratic win. The villagers had planned to burst crackers and hold a special prayer ceremony at the local temple, an echo of their celebrations when Harris first ascended to the Vice Presidency.

But the results weren’t what they anticipated. As projections came in, it became evident that Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, was on track to become the 47th President of the United States. Many in Thulasendrapuram felt a wave of disappointment wash over their excitement. "It is a little disappointing for us," said one local to the media, reflecting the shared sentiment of the village. "This time we had planned to celebrate more. But we have to accept the mandate."

This sentiment was echoed by Joy, a Harris supporter who had traveled from Chicago to stay in Thulasendrapuram during the election. Initially confident about a Democratic victory, Joy expressed both resignation and hope for the future. "If Donald Trump wins, I hope he is given the wisdom to lead us with unity. My hope is that he changes his ways and becomes the one who unites and not a divider," he shared, though he admitted he expected turbulence ahead. "I think our country will be in chaos for the next four years."

Across the ocean, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump was addressing a crowd of jubilant supporters, reveling in what he declared the "greatest political movement of all time." Flanked by his running mate, JD Vance, and surrounded by family members, Trump assured his supporters that he intended to use his return to office to "help our country heal." His message was one of renewed promises: "We have a country that needs help and needs help very badly. We are gonna fix our borders, we are gonna fix everything about our country."

The gathering cheered as Trump shared his vision of a rejuvenated America. He spoke of making "America great again" and proclaimed that there had never been a movement like his in the nation's history. His supporters, energised and optimistic, celebrated his words and the return of a familiar political direction.

Meanwhile, the Democratic campaign maintained hope, with Campaign Co-Chair Cedric Richmond reminding the public that the election was not fully over. "We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet," Richmond told supporters, indicating that Democratic leadership remained cautiously optimistic about the outcome and urging patience as the last votes were tallied.

Adding to the day’s unique mix of emotions, prayers were offered for Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance in Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari district. Vance, the husband of Usha Vance from Vadluru village in Andhra Pradesh, had gathered his own wave of support, and locals held prayers in hopes of his success.

(With inputs from agencies)