Usha Kalluri Vance is Telugus' pride, says AP CM Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has congratulated US Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife Usha Chilukuri. He said Mrs Vance, who parents hailed from Andhra Pradesh, were the pride of all Telugus.

 Taking to the social media platform X, Mr Chandrababu Naidu wrote: "I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr.@JDVance, on becoming the US Vice President-elect. His victory marks a historic moment, as Mrs. Usha Vance, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh, will become the first woman of Telugu heritage to serve as the Second Lady of the US."

"This is a moment of pride for the Telugu community around the world," he noted. "I look forward to the opportunity to invite them to visit Andhra Pradesh."

With the Trump-Vance win on Wednesday, Usha, 38, is poised to become America's Second Lady, making her the first Indian-American to hold the position. She stood alongside Mr Vance, 39, the Ohio Senator, as  Mr Trump delivered his acceptance speech after securing enough votes to return to the White House.

Roots in Andhra

Usha Chilukuri is the daughter of Indian immigrants. Her parents' ancestral village is Vadluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, though Usha grew up in a San Diego suburb. A bright student and a bookworm, Usha showed leadership qualities earlier on, her friends told the media.

A Gates Scholar, her career spans Cambridge and Yale universities, and then clerking for various members of the Supreme Court. Her last job was that of a civil litigation attorney.

Usha and Vance met at Yale Law School and married in 2014 in Kentucky. The ceremony was blessed by a Hindu priest at a different event. They have three children. While speaking in a podcast in 2020, Mr Vance said: "If I maybe get a little bit too cocky or a little too proud, I just remind myself that she is way more accomplished than I am. People don't realise just how brilliant she is."

On November 5, Mr Vance thanked his wife for her support in the US presidential polls campaign. In an X post,  Mr Vance wrote, “THANK YOU! To my beautiful wife for making it possible to do this. To President Donald J. Trump, for giving me such an opportunity to serve our country at this level. And to the American people, for their trust. I will never stop fighting for ALL of you.”

While speaking in a podcast in 2020, Mr Vance said: "If I maybe get a little bit too cocky or a little too proud, I just remind myself that she is way more accomplished than I am. People don't realise just how brilliant she is."

Roots in Andhra

Usha Chilukuri is the daughter of Indian immigrants. Her parents' ancestral village is Vadluru in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, though Usha grew up in a San Diego suburb. A bright student and a bookworm, Usha showed leadership qualities earlier on, her friends told the media.

A Gates Scholar, her career spans Cambridge and Yale universities, and then clerking for various members of the Supreme Court. Her last job was that of a civil litigation attorney.

Usha and Vance met at Yale Law School and married in 2014 in Kentucky. The ceremony was blessed by a Hindu priest at a different event. They have three children. While speaking in a podcast in 2020, Mr Vance said: "If I maybe get a little bit too cocky or a little too proud, I just remind myself that she is way more accomplished than I am. People don't realise just how brilliant she is."

(By arrangement with livemint.com)