BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES: Harry Bhandari who has been elected to the House of Delegates from Baltimore Country District-8 in Maryland, the Unites States of America, from the Democratic Party has said the Nepalis living in every state have contributed to his election victory in an important way.

Bhandari has become the first American of Nepali origin to win a seat in the House of Delegates. He was active in politics for the last 10 years and was elected a Delegate in the midterm elections held on November 6. He had acquired US citizenship seven years back.

Bhandari said he would voice the issues and concerns of Nepali migrants living in the US in the coming days.

The credit for Bhandari’s election victory goes to his uninterrupted commitment, active participation, hard working image and interaction with voters.

Only 100 people of Nepali origin out of the 80,000 voters in the district voted in the election. Bhandari got the opportunity to serve as the Delegate in the House due to a strong base of pluralism in the USA.

In the words of the Maryland State political observers, the ‘pumpkin twig diplomacy’ of the Nepalis seemed to have worked in Harry’s electoral victory. ‘Pumpkin twig diplomacy’ refers to the adeptness of the Nepali community to win the hearts of their American neighbours by giving them the green vegetables and fruits grown in their backyards.

Tarun Poudel, who was involved in Bhandari’s election campaign said, Bhandari’s winning the election has paved way in creating a distinct history for Nepalis living in the USA.

Gautam Dahal, former president of Nepal-America Journalist Association, who lives in Maryland, said Bhandari’s victory has swayed the opinion of the Nepali diaspora in the US.

Bhandari was born to mother Kanti Kumari and father Ammar Bahadur at Thapathana of Parbat district in 2034 BS. He has been living in the US since 2005 AD and got his voting right in 2011 AD.