Washington, Feb 15: Bobby Jindal, the highest-ranking Indian American in the Bush administration, is getting set to make a bid for governorship in his home state of Louisiana. He is expected to make an announcement next week.
If the 30-year-old Jindal does throw his hat into the ring, as it seems most likely, he will be the first Indian American to run for such a high political post in the US.In preparation for a formal announcement, Jindal on Thursday stepped down from his key post of Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services.
All that Jindal ventured to say immediately about a gubernatorial essay was that Louisiana`s outgoing Republican Governor Mike Foster has encouraged him to run for the post. Foster is approaching the end of his two-term limit.
"I will go back to Louisiana and make a decision soon after that. I haven`t made a decision yet," Jindal maintained.
For the 1.7 million strong Indian American community, which has been wanting to make an impact on the American political map, Jindal`s bid and possible success, will represent a high watermark.
In a letter to President George W. Bush, thanking him profusely for the key assignment, Jindal said: "I now leave your great administration to consider an exciting leadership opportunity in my home state of Louisiana to further pursue the American dream."
Jindal has built up an impeccable reputation within a short period. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jindal made a name for himself in dealing with complex medical care issues in his state and attracted national attention. He successfully turned around Louisiana`s Medicaid scheme that had gone bankrupt.
A Rhodes scholar, Jindal received his graduate degree from Oxford University. Prior to that he graduated from Brown University with honours in biology and public policy. He had a successful tenure as president of the University of Louisiana system for two years till 1996.
Health and Human Services secretary Tommy G Thompson hailed Jindal`s work in the department in the last year and a half. "When Bobby came on board I gave him a couple of challenges. He was to lead our efforts to develop a strategy to address the issue of the uninsured and he also was charged with helping create a Medicare reform plan that not only addresses the challenges facing the programme, but one that Congress could pass. Bobby met both those challenges and more.
He has been a real asset at the department and the Bush administration," Thompson said.
Bureau Report
