‘Don’t speak English’: Indian-born Jay Vaingakar sparks controversy by campaigning in Hindi for New Jersey’s ‘Desi community’

A row has broken out in the United States after Indian-origin congressional candidate Jay Vaingakar was criticized for campaigning in Hindi while addressing members of New Jersey’s “Desi” community.The controversy started when Indian-American commentator Mehek Cooke posted on X, reacting to a video of Vaingakar speaking in Hindi about uplifting the “Desi community” in the state.She said Jay is displacing Americans in America: “A candidate for Congress is running his entire campaign in a foreign language. Jay Wanganka is not campaigning for Americans – he is campaigning for their replacement. This is no longer subtle.”

Who is Jay Wainkaka?

Wangaka, 28, is a former Biden administration official from New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. His campaign also recently revealed strong early fundraising numbers.He raised nearly $110,000 in the first quarter of 2026, according to his campaign, bringing his fundraising total to more than $260,000. That includes more than $150,000 raised when he launched his bid in December 2025.A press release from the campaign said the funds came primarily from grassroots support, with no contributions from corporate political action committees or special interest groups. The average online donation was reported to be $33.44.“We’re running this campaign the right way and with real grassroots support from people who want a new generation of leadership in Congress,” Wangaka said.Jay added, “We don’t take a penny from corporate PACs or special interest groups, which means we are accountable to the people our campaigns serve. This early support shows that our message is resonating and that we are well-positioned to compete against elected officials twice my age, candidates who have run before or have long-standing political networks.”Vaingakar previously served as a special adviser in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Policy. His work focuses on energy policy, including clean energy initiatives and efforts to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.He grew up in an immigrant family in Hightstown, New Jersey, and attended the University of Pennsylvania. He later served as a community organizer and worked in community solar, focusing on expanding access to affordable energy.The campaign video that sparked the brawl showed Wangaka speaking in Hindi to the South Asian community, an important constituency in parts of New Jersey.He is of Indian descent and grew up in Hightstown, New Jersey, to parents who immigrated from Bombay before he was born.