MADURAI: While outgoing US President Barack Obama’s Democratic Party is mourning over the defeat, relatives of Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Tamil, were ecstatic as he has won the 8th Congressional District of Illinois.
The 43-year-old’s father hails from Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district, and his mother, Rajarajeswari, from Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district. Born in New Delhi, Raja was taken to the state of Illinois, when he was three years old. Raja is married to Mathangi alias Priya, who is a doctor.
Speaking to Express, Parvathi Sankaranarayan (79), Mathangi’s aunt, said, “We could not have asked for anything better than this, that is Raja winning the elections in his second attempt. We were expecting the victory and we are happy for Mathangi, who was under the care of my family during her childhood.”
“Best wishes for future Senator (Congressman) from former Tenkasi MLA,” was the message sent by Advocate T S Venkataramana, who is practicing at the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, before the counting of votes began. Venkataramana, who is Mathangi’s brother, said Raja is the first Tamil to be elected as Congressman in the US.