US President Joe Biden on Tuesday renominated former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti for the post of ambassador to India despite his Senate confirmation being stalled for over 17 months, resulting in Roosevelt House in Delhi lying vacant for an unprecedented 23 months.

Ken Juster, the last occupant of the ambassadorial residence of the US in New Delhi, had stepped down on the day of Biden’s inauguration on January 20, 2021. Garcetti, who completed his term as Los Angeles mayor last month, was co-chair of Biden’s successful presidential campaign in 2020.

He was nominated for the post of Indian ambassador on July 10, 2021, but his Senate confirmation was blocked by a Republican senator over the alleged mishandling of sexual harassment charges against a top aide by him and his staff. Subsequently, a few Democrat senators, too, have expressed concerns about the harassment allegations.

Thus, it became a scramble for the 50 votes that Garcetti needs for his confirmation despite the Democrats being in a better position in the Senate after the 2022 elections.

Still, the White House remained confident of the confirmation sailing through. Asked what had changed to think that the confirmation process will go a little more smoothly than it did last time, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said:“Look, as secretary (of state Antony) Blinken said very recently, our relationship with India is crucial and it’s consequential, so we see this as a very important nomination.

“We’ll continue to seek the confirmation of mayor Garcetti, who has — who was, as you all know, voted out of the(Senate foreign relations) committee unanimously and with strong bipartisan support to serve as ambassador to India. And that’s important, as we’re talking about bipartisanship....”