Non-resident Rohit Singh runs a financial services firm ten years after leaving India. (Jerome Campbell/Neon Tommy)

Rohit Singh keeps an eye on his Indian hometown from 8,000 miles away. Singh left his family and the poverty of Uttar Pradesh, a state in northern India, for an American college education in 2004. Ten years later, he achieved his American dream and became the vice president of a start-up financial services company. Now he wants to give the same opportunity to his country.

“I owe it my country and my community [to] contribute,” said Singh. “I was one of the lucky ones who got out of the poverty and can at least live a life with basic services. India now has a robust growth and change can happen. I want to be a part of that.”

India-born expats, or Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), have had the ability to participate in their home country's elections for years, but the rise of a new Aam Aadmi Party and newly elected Indian President Narendra Modi sparked international interest. The party’s victory in New Delhi shook Indian politics and rippled abroad. Many NRIs have closely watched the country during its largest election in a period of economic growth. Political groups have noticed the increased attention and turned abroad to grow their voting blocs.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have both established overseas campaign groups in at least 30 major U.S. cities to encourage NRIs to contribute to the election. Nearly 10,000 NRIs have traveled to India to participate in the election, though they will not be able impact the ballot box with registered voters totaling in the thousands.

But their access to funds and social media reach has increased their utility for political parties. The growing political presence of NRIs during India’s biggest election poses concerns for Indian citizens and raises questions of authenticity and motive.

“It’s true that the stakes are not as high for NRIs," said Vijay Patel, a spokesperson for Overseas Friends of BJP. "The poverty and corruption do not affect us every day." But, Patel said, NRIs still have interests.

The outside position of NRIs delineates a difference in issues and priorities. Indian citizens primarily focus on local issues such as housing and safety while the economy and business regulation receive more attention abroad.

SEE ALSO: Narendra Modi India's New Prime Minister

The change of government could bring new polices that would benefit NRIs. The government offers favorable interest rates and investment opportunities for NRIs, which a shift in policy could disturb. A Harvard study shows 50 percent of NRIs are returning to the country for entrepreneurial and business reasons. And these interests might not align with the prosperity of the country.

“Inflation works in our favor," Singh said. "We can buy properties in India from a strong currency and profit. Yet, the common man could save up his money for a home, and the market could come down on him."

There are some NRIs who would like to maintain these interests, Singh said, "but the election is about coming together for the country.”

Regardless, both groups rank one issue highly—corruption.

“After leaving India, you realize that Indians can have a better life," Pran Kurup, an AAP-USA leader said. "The people are not choosing poverty. There are people who prevent others from living good lives, and regardless of party, we all want this.”

The overseas political groups also see a difference in the value of religious views. The upcoming election stirred up concerns of communalism within the country. Media coverage and political groups have divided religious groups into voting blocs. But NRIs tend to have a liberal view.

The AAP and BJP groups in America have constituencies of Muslim, Hindu, Jain and Sikh supporters. Kurup said the religious groups can be divided, but the unifying NRI experience creates a cohesive group of people interested in the country’s wellbeing.

“When we reach out to Indians in America, we do not have to worry about religious views," said Kurup. "It could be because Christianity is prevalent, but NRIs want to come together for their country.”

Indian-Americans have tried to use their resources to make effective contributions to the election. Both political groups have used social media to communicate with Indian citizens. The Overseas Friends of BJP have used Google hangouts and live-stream conferences to discuss political ideas with voters in India, while some Indian-American supporters of the AAP have volunteered for the party’s phone bank to call potential voters.

“It does not matter if I’m halfway around the world," Singh said. "India is my country and Indians are my people. It does not matter what I have achieved—all of my roots lead back there.”

Reach contributor Jerome Campbell here.