Pennington, NJ – August 25, 2025: The South Asian Coalition showcased its growing influence in New Jersey politics with a highly successful Meet & Greet event featuring gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli. Held in Pennington and hosted by Pavan Kuchana, the gathering drew over 300 attendees, including independent voters, community leaders, and coalition members, underscoring the strength of South Asian grassroots mobilization.
The program began with a welcome address by Sridhar Chillara, Chairman of the South Asian Coalition, who emphasized the power of grassroots participation and the responsibility of South Asians to make their voices heard. Executive Director Pavan Kuchana highlighted the low voter turnout within the community and stressed the need for collective action to shape New Jersey’s future.
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, and Murthy Valluri — stood united, sharing inspiring messages that reinforced the Coalition’s vision of inclusivity and strength. A highlight of the evening was the formal announcement of the Sri Lankan Coalition leadership, further expanding South Asian representation under the Coalition’s umbrella.
Candidate Jack Ciattarelli, joined by Anita Kothari, received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd. He outlined his policy priorities and plans for administration, focusing on initiatives that would benefit South Asians and strengthen New Jersey as a whole. His remarks were met with repeated applause and chants of support.
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The event also featured a lively Q&A session, with independent voters directly engaging the candidate on key issues. This dialogue, marked by transparency and candid responses, strengthened confidence in the campaign’s grassroots connection.
“This gathering reflects the energy and enthusiasm of our community, and the strong voter turnout we expect,” said Chairman 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 witnessing is historic — built by the actions and passion of our community.”
With several fundraisers and gatherings already held, the Coalition’s initiatives continue to build unstoppable momentum heading into November, uniting South Asian voices in unprecedented ways.