Euphoria in Usha Chilukuri Vance's ancestral village Vadluru in Andhra

West Godavari: Following the victory of Donald Trump and his vice presidential candidate JD Vance in the 2024 US presidential elections, there is euphoria at Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh, which is the ancestral village of Vance's wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance.

Vadluru is about 3 km from the town Tanuku in West Godavari district, where Usha's family once lived. The villagers celebrated her husband's victory in the US election.

"We just celebrated Usha's husband's victory. We burst crackers and preceded this celebration with prayers for JD Vance's victory yesterday at the local Sai Baba temple," P Srinivasa Raju (53), a former village president, told.

About 30 to 40 local villagers distributed sweets to celebrate Vance's victory and Usha's links to the village, who is expected to become the second lady of the United States.

Incidentally, the Sai Baba temple in the village was constructed on a plot donated by Usha's family.

Further, Raju said that Vadluru village was expected to benefit in some way from JD Vance's wife.

According to Badri Narayana (67), a villager, Usha's family would have lived in the village more than 70 years ago.

He noted that her grandfather was a farmer in the village but he never saw anybody from that family. However, he said that Usha's distant relatives, who do not have any links with the family now, continue to live in the village.

Vadluru first came into the international limelight in July, immediately after Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate.

Usha is an accomplished lawyer educated at Yale University.

Meanwhile, C Shantamma, a 96-year-old-year Vizag-based physics professor and a distant relative of 38-year-old Usha, who never met or spoke to the latter expressed happiness over JD Vance's triumph in the US polls.

"I am happy that she (Usha through husband JD Vance) won. As they are our people, it is a bit more happier. Because they belong to our families, we are happy. I am happy after coming to know about our relationship," Shantamma told PTI Videos.

The nonagenarian is related to Usha through her husband C Subramanya Sastry. Subramanya Sastry's oldest brother, C Rama Sastry, is Usha's grandfather.

According to Santhamma, Usha's parents, C Radhakrishna and Lakshmi, emigrated to the US around 1980.

Though many people go on to become presidents and secretaries, Santhamma noted that the relationship she shares with Usha through the Chilukuri surname makes this election victory sweeter.

Further, Santhamma added that she came to know of Usha's husband's victory after watching an election video.

CM Naidu congratulates Usha Vance

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday hailed US Vice President elect-JD Vance’s victory in the presidential election as a historic moment as it will catapult a woman of Telugu heritage, Usha Chilukuri Vance, as the Second Lady of the United States.

Usha is the wife of JD Vance and her family’s ancestral village Vadluru is located near famous Godavari town Tanuku in the lush green West Godavari district, about 35 km from district headquarters Bhimavaram.

“I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to JD Vance, on becoming the US Vice President-elect. His victory marks a historic moment, as 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,” said Naidu in a post on X.

Calling this a moment of pride for the Telugu community around the world, Naidu said he looks forward to the opportunity to invite them (JD Vance and Usha) to visit Andhra Pradesh.

Earlier, the chief minister congratulated Donald Trump for winning the 2024 US presidential election and wished him success.

The chief minister said that Trump's election would further strengthen ties between India and the US.

"I congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the US Presidential Elections and wish him success as he prepares to lead his country forward. His first tenure marked significant strengthening of the Indo-US partnership," said Naidu in a post on 'X'.

The TDP chief expressed confidence that the two nations, India and the US, will foster greater cooperation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump.

Inputs from PTI.