The American Hindu Coalition (AHC) endorsed Congressman Tom Kean Jr. for re-election in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District and Manisha Bhat for Manville City Council during an October 30 community gathering at Sri Venkateswara Temple in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
The event was held under the leadership of AHC Founding Chairman Shekhar Tiwari, with Dr. Lakshmi Thalanki coordinating on behalf of the organization.
According to an AHC statement, the gathering brought together Hindu community leaders, families, supporters, and temple devotees. Attendees included Bernardsville Mayor Mary Jane Canose; Dr. Bapineedu Kuchipudi, one of the temple’s founding chairmen; Upendra Chivukula; Hemanth Bhat; Dr. Arjun Sarof; Priyotesh Dey; Vijay Joshi; and Neil Ray.
Attendees had an opportunity to speak with Kean about issues affecting their communities and discuss civic participation and representation.
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Kean, who has visited the temple on several occasions, said he intended to attend future events and reiterated his support for the Hindu community, according to the statement. AHC also noted that his father, former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean Sr., has maintained longstanding ties with the community.
During the gathering, Kean expressed concern about an alleged attempted mass shooting in Illinois that AHC described as having been thwarted when a firearm reportedly jammed. The organization said the malfunction may have prevented further casualties.
Dr. Thalanki presented Kean with a murti, or sacred image, of Goddess Lakshmi, offering wishes for success in his re-election campaign. Kean accepted the gift and thanked her.
Tiwari said the Hindu community’s growing civic involvement had drawn increased interest from candidates seeking AHC’s endorsement, particularly in closely contested local and congressional races.
Dr. Thalanki said concerns about what she described as rising anti-Hindu narratives had encouraged community members to become more involved in public life. She characterized the reported Illinois incident as a reminder of the need for solidarity and attention to community safety.
“These events remind us of the importance of standing together, protecting one another, and ensuring that our community’s concerns are heard,” she said.
She added that Hindu Americans were increasingly organizing, engaging with elected officials, and participating in elections. She said their votes could help determine outcomes in closely contested races, underscoring the importance of voter participation and sustained civic engagement.
