New York: Indian American Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal, a conservative Republican, is set to become the youngest Governor of the once racially segregated US State of Louisiana after his inauguration on Monday at a grand ceremony marked by flypast by F-15 fighter jets.
Also see: Jindal, Sunita among top 10 Indian American newsmakers
The 36-year-old Oxford-educated Jindal's inaugural ceremony begins on the State Capitol on Monday and will feature live music, a 19-cannon salute and fighter jet flyover.
He will be the first person of Indian-origin to hold the Governor's post, symbolising the growing clout of the Indian American community in the US political arena. He will also be the first non-White governor in the country since a Reconstruction era figure held the job briefly 130 years ago.
In the elections in October 2007, Jindal, son of Indian immigrants, got 53 per cent votes in his favour.
Jindal, who was born as a Hindu but converted to Catholicism, was the second Indian American to be elected to the US Congress in 2004 following a failed bid to be Governor of Louisiana, a socially conservative State. He brings to office a lot of experience, holding the position of State Health Secretary when he was just 24.
A conservative Republican, he advocates total ban on abortions and teaching of 'intelligent design' as alternative to the theory of evolution in schools. He faces significant challenges as the Chief Executive of Louisiana, a State, which was devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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