South Asians for America Hosts Queens Event Backing Kumar, Ghimire Ahead of Primary

South Asians for America (SAFA) on Wednesday convened community members in Queens for a postcard-writing event in support of two SAFA-endorsed Democratic candidates, Vichal Kumar and Somnath Ghimire, ahead of New York’s June 23 primary.

Kumar is running for Congress in New York’s 7th District, while Ghimire is contesting the state Assembly seat in District 30. According to a statement from SAFA, volunteers wrote postcards to voters across western Queens, an area where both candidates share a constituency.

The meet-and-greet drew a largely Nepalese American audience, including community organizers, attorneys, and first-generation immigrants. Organizers described the gathering as part of a broader effort to increase civic participation within immigrant communities.

“Writing postcards is one of the most powerful ways immigrant communities can show up in our democracy,” said SAFA Co-National Director Harini Krishnan. “You do not need to be a political insider. You do not need to make a big donation. You just need a pen, a stamp, and a belief that your neighbors’ voices matter. That is how movements are built.”

Organizers pointed to growing South Asian political engagement in New York, which is home to one of the largest South Asian populations in the United States, but has yet to elect a South Asian American to Congress.

SAFA Co-National Director Neha Dewan introduced Kumar, describing him as a civil rights attorney and longtime public defender. She highlighted his advocacy on behalf of working families, immigrants, and tenants, and noted his leadership roles within the South Asian Bar Association.

“I have known Vichal for more than two decades — from our time together at the South Asian Bar Association of New York, where I served as president, through his tenure as president of SABA North America,” Dewan said. “He has spent his career standing with working families, immigrants, and tenants. New York has never had a South Asian voice in Congress. It is time.”

Kumar emphasized the importance of representation and community engagement, particularly amid concerns raised by immigration enforcement.

“South Asian immigrants built this city block by block, and with ICE raids destroying the very fabric of our communities, we need to ensure we have representation now more than ever,” Kumar said. “For more than 20 years, I have been in the room when families had nowhere else to turn. I am deeply grateful to be partnering with Somnath to reach the Nepalese community and to bring their concerns to Washington.”

Krishnan also introduced Ghimire, a Woodside resident and community organizer who has served as SAFA’s New York state lead since the 2020 election cycle. He currently leads the Jackson Heights chapter of the Alliance of South Asian American Labor.

“Somnath has been building South Asian voter power across Queens from the ground up,” Krishnan said. “He knows this district, he knows these families, and he has earned this moment. In the entire history of the United States, only two Nepali Americans have ever been elected to a state legislature. Somnath has the chance to be the third — and the first from Queens, home to one of the largest Nepali American communities in the country.”

Ghimire is running in the Democratic primary for District 30, which includes Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside. According to the statement, his campaign priorities include “affordable housing, strong public schools, and worker protections.”

“Our community is stronger when South Asians stand together,” Ghimire said. “Vichal and I come from different backgrounds and are running for different offices, but we are fighting for the same families — the restaurant workers, the taxi drivers, the home health aides who keep this city running. On June 23, we are going to show Queens and the country what this community can do when we move as one.”

Several community leaders also addressed attendees, including Dinesh Mojumder, president of Bengali Club USA; Luisang Waiba, founder and CEO of Nepal Day Parade 2016 and a senior community activist; Dileepkumar Thankappan, known as “Guru Dileepji,” an executive committee member of the New York State Interfaith Council and secretary of the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations; SAFA community activist Merina Parajuli; and Dinesh Sunar, a 22-time Guinness World Records parkour title holder.

“South Asian immigrants are done waiting our turn,” Dewan said. “On June 23, we intend to show up and be counted.”

The event was hosted at Nepali Bhanchha Ghar Restaurant in Jackson Heights, a five-time winner of New York City’s annual Momo Crawl. Volunteers were also served traditional dishes including sel roti, aalu achar, and lentils, the statement noted.