Our Bureau
Pennington, NJ
The South Asian Coalition demonstrated its leadership in grassroots political mobilization with a highly successful Meet & Greet with New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, held on August 25, 2025 in Pennington. The event drew more than 300 attendees, including independent voters, respected community leaders, and coalition members, underscoring the growing influence of South Asians in New Jersey’s political landscape. The evening was graciously hosted by Pavan Kuchana, whose arrangements and hospitality were praised by all.
Community Leadership in Action
The program began with a welcome address by Sridhar Chillara, Chairman of the South Asian Coalition, who emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement and community-driven leadership. Pavan Kuchana, Executive Director, highlighted the low percentage of South Asian voter participation and stressed the need for collective action to drive meaningful change in New Jersey.
Executive Leaders Show Unity
All executive leaders of the South Asian Coalition — including Dharmesh Patel, Sarvesh Dharayan, Subrahmanyam Osuru, Yuva GkPathm, Sunita Krosuri, Kulraj Anand, Anura Rupasinghe, Piyush Patel, Nimesh Patel, Vinay Mahajan, Palaniappan Subramanian, Ajay Mehra, Anjan Karnati, Samiksha Sharma, Balaji Veernala, Srikanth Aitharaju, Niranjan Reddy, and Murthy Valluri — were present and shared their perspectives. Their grassroots-focused messages inspired the audience and reinforced the Coalition’s unity and strength.
Expanding Representation
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Sri Lankan Coalition leadership by Chairman Chillara, further expanding representation and reinforcing the Coalition’s inclusive vision of uniting diverse cultures under one banner.
Candidate Engagement
Jack Ciattarelli, accompanied by Anita Kothari, received a warm welcome from the audience. He spoke at length about his policies and administration plans, focusing on how they would benefit South Asians and strengthen New Jersey’s future. His remarks drew repeated cheers and applause.
Dialogue with Voters
The gathering also featured an engaging Q&A session, where independent voters raised important questions and received direct responses from Jack. This exchange highlighted the transparency, grassroots connection, and trust that are fueling the campaign’s momentum.
“This gathering reflects the energy and enthusiasm of our community, and the strong voter turnout we expect,” said Sridhar Chillara. “The South Asian Coalition has been setting the pace with meet-and-greets, fundraisers, and grassroots initiatives across the state. The momentum we are seeing is historic — created by the actions and passion of our community.”
With multiple fundraisers and grassroots gatherings already organized, the South Asian Coalition is driving an unprecedented movement that continues to build unstoppable momentum heading into November.
About the South Asian Coalition
The South Asian Coalition is a unifying platform bringing together leaders and communities from across South Asia — including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Nepali Americans — with the mission of empowering grassroots voices and ensuring strong representation in New Jersey’s political process.
